Magnetic Removal of Iron From Fireclays: Optimum Conditions

Abstract

An alumino-silicate based fireclay used in the production of refractory materials contains iron impurity which is not in the desired limits. The magnetic conversion conditions have been experimented in the reduction of iron content in the fireclay by magnetic separation. Effects of heating temperature, heating time and grain size and coal addition were investigated in the magnetization of fireclay samples. An artificial neural network was developed for modeling the dependency of magnetization on temperature, time and grain size as well as on coal addition during heating and an optimization problem was formulated in order to achieve the optimum conditions of magnetization. The results indicate that heating clay particles of 517 mesh (average 3.36 mm) grain size at 458 degrees C for 15 min without any coal addition will give the optimum magnetization.