OPTIMUM PARAMETERS IN SILICOMANGANESE PRODUCTION PROCESS: LITERATURE REVIEW AND PROCESS SIMULATION USING FACTSAGE

• Main Author: Aji Rahadian, Rahmad
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Subjects: Metalurgi
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/51432
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

East Nusa Tenggara owns 60% of Indonesia's manganese resources. The quality of manganese ore from East Nusa Tenggara is known worldwide as premium quality manganese ore because it has high manganese content and low levels of phosphorus and iron. Until now, East Nusa Tenggara does not yet have a manganese processing and refining plant. This is a prospect for building a silico-manganese smelter. The smelter construction is expected to have a multiplier effect so that it can drive the regional economy. This literature study aims to review the optimal parameters in the smelting process of manganese ore into silico-manganese. The literature study begins with data from several journals, reference books, theses, and other published forms of research to provide general information about manganese ore, silicomanganese production process, and silicomanganese smelting thermodynamics. The next step is to discuss the parameters that can affect the recovery of silicon and manganese in the silicomanganese process. The results of this literature study are then used to determine the optimal parameters for the silico-manganese smelting process as well as a reference in performing thermodynamic simulation of the silicomanganese smelting process using the FactSage 7.2 software. The results showed that the higher the operational temperature, the higher MnO and SiO2 were reduced into the molten metal. The higher the basicity value B = [(%CaO+%MgO)/%SiO2] and R = [(%CaO+%MgO)/%Al2O3] in the feed material, the higher the manganese content in the metal, however the silicon content in the metal, and the recovery of both silicon and manganese will decrease. The higher the mass ratio value of Mn / Fe in the feed, the higher the manganese and silicon content in the metal. The lower the mass ratio value Mn / Si in the feed, the higher the silicon content in the metal, but the manganese content in the metal will decrease. Optimal parameters are those that provide maximum silicon and manganese recoveries and produce a silico-manganese metal with standard composition. The optimum parameters have been determined as follows: The optimal operating temperature is 1600?C, the optimal B basicity value in the range 0.2 – 0.6, the optimal R basicity value is 1.3 – 1.8, the mass ratio value of Mn / Fe in the feed at a minimum 3.5, and the mass ratio value of Mn / Si at a minimum 2.5.