Iron removal from bauxite ores

A process of removing iron from bauxite ore is described. The ore is firstly reduced in CO and H₂ atmosphere to convert iron oxides of bauxite to magnetite or elemental iron. Then material is finely crushed and passed through the magnetic separation. Short characterisation of raw and preheated bauxite is done by using XRD, XRF and EPMA. Additionally, effect of reduction process on total organic carbon was investigated.  Experiments shows that once iron phase rendered magnetic it can be removed by magnetic separation. Iron content was reduced by 43% in comparison to untreated bauxite ore with 75% bauxite recovery as non-magnetic fraction