Sintering Reaction of Pseudoleucite Syenite: Thermodynamic Analysis and Process Evaluation

On the basis of comprehensive analysis of the modal composition of a pseudoleucite syenite ore sample, collected from the Zijin Hill of Lin County, Shanxi Province, thermodynamic analysis of the pseudoleucite syenite sintering process with sodium carbonate as the additive was carried out. It indicated that when the pseudoleucite syenite was sintered at 760–880°C for 1.0–1.5 h, with sodium carbonate as the additive. The decomposition rate of minerals in the pseudoleucite syenite could reach 97.1%. The thermodynamic calculation shows that it needs to consume Na2CO3, i.e., 0.65 t treating per ton pseudoleucite syenite ore and approximately 95% of Na2CO3 could be recycled. This process consumes heat energy (2.29–2.48)×10−6 kJ, corresponding to standard coal 190.97–206.82 kg as the thermal efficiency was 40% and CO2 emission was 0.77–0.81 t. Compared with the Russian limestone-sintering technique, the natural mineral resources and energy consumptions and greenhouse gas emissions of the soda-sintering technique were reduced by 65%, 63%, and 65%, respectively. It is, therefore, feasible that the procedure suggested in this article could be industrialized providing both economic benefit and environmental conservation.