Claims:

1. Composition comprising chrome ore, bentonite and anionic polyacrylamide.

2. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chrome ore is in an amount ranging from about 90 % to 95%.

3. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bentonite is in an amount ranging from about 1 wt% to 5 wt%.

4. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the anionic polyacrylamide is in an amount ranging from about 0.5 wt% to 5 wt%.

5. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein about 80% of the chrome ore has size ranging from about 1.2 mm to 1.8 mm and about 14% of the chrome ore fines has size ranging from about – 3 mm to +1 mm.

6. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chrome ore comprises about of 0.003-0.006 % K2O, about 0.01-0.03% of Na2O, about 0.1-0.2 % of CaO, about 11-14 % of SiO2, 0.001-0.004 % of S, about 9-13 % of Fe(T), about 45-51% of Cr2O3, about 0.004-0.008 % of P, about 8-12 % of MgO, about 0.4-0.6% of MnO, about 8-12% of Al2O3 and about 0.1-0.4% of TiO2; and the chrome ore has loss on ignition (LOI) ranging from about 2 to 6.

7. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bentonite comprises about 0.5-0.9% of K2O, about 3-6 % of Na2O, about 1.5-4 % of CaO, about 37-45% of SiO2, about 12-15% of Fe(T), about 0.01-0.02% of P, about 1.55-4% of MgO, about 0.1-0.3% of MnO, about 10-13% of Al2O3 and about 1.1-3% of TiO2.

8. The composition as claimed in claim 1, wherein the anionic polyacrylamide comprises about 1-3% of S, less than 0.1 ppm of P, about 52-55% of C, about 4-8% of H, about 14-18% of N, about 18-24% of O.

9. A process for preparing the composition as claimed in claim 1, said method comprises- mixing the chrome ore, the bentonite and the anionic polyacrylamide to obtain the composition.

10. The process as claimed in claim 9, wherein the mixing is carried out at a temperature ranging from about 24 ºC to 27 ºC, for a duration ranging from about 5 minutes to 20 minutes.

11. A chrome ore briquette comprising the composition as claimed in claim 1,

12. The briquette as claimed in claim 11, wherein the briquette has moisture content ranging from about 2% to 6%.

13. The briquette as claimed in claim 11, wherein the briquette has cold compressive strength ranging from about 200 kgf/briquette to 3000 kgf/briquette.

14. The briquette as claimed in claim 11, wherein the briquette has phosphorous content ranging from about 0.006% to 0.008%.

15. A method of producing the chrome ore briquette as claimed in claim 11, said method comprises- mixing the composition as claimed in claim 1 with solvent to obtain a mixture, followed by pressing and curing to obtain the briquette.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the solvent is water,

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the pressing is carried out by technique selected from a group comprising hydraulic press, and roller press.

18. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the curing is carried out at a temperature ranging from about 24 ºC to 30 ºC, for a duration ranging from about 70 hours to 90 hours.

19. A method for producing low phosphorus chrome ore briquette employing composite binder comprising bentonite and anionic polyacrylamide, said method comprises-
- mixing chrome ore with the composite binder, followed by adding solvent to obtain mixture; and
- pressing the mixture, followed by curing to obtain low phosphorus chrome ore briquette.

20. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the composite binder comprises about 1 wt% to 5 wt% of bentonite and about 0.5 wt% to 5 wt% of anionic polyacrylamide.

21. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the solvent is water; and wherein the solvent is added to maintain moisture content ranging from about 2% to 6 %.

22. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the pressing is carried out for a duration ranging from about 0.5 minutes to 2 minutes, by technique selected from a group comprising hydraulic press and roller press.

23. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the curing is carried out at a temperature ranging from about 24 ºC to 30 ºC for a duration ranging from about 70 hours to 90 hours.

24. The method as claimed in claim 19, wherein the chrome ore briquette has low phosphorous content ranging from about 0.006% to 0.008%; and the chrome ore briquette has cold compressive strength ranging from about 200 kgf/briquette to 300kgf/briquette.

Dated this 29th day of March 2022

Signature:
Name: Sridhar R
To, Of K&S Partners, Bangalore
The Controller of Patents Agent for the Applicant
The Patent Office, at Kolkata IN/PA-2598

, Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
The present disclosure relates to field of material sciences and metallurgy. The present disclosure particularly relates to briquette composition and process of preparing the briquette composition. The disclosure also relates to chromite ore briquette having improved briquette properties and method of preparing the briquettes. The disclosure also relates to use of composite binder for producing low phosphorus briquette.

BACKGROUND OF THE DISCLOSURE
Chrome ore is difficult and challenging to briquette due to its refractory character, which is caused by its high Cr/Fe ratio and high MgO content. Generally, molasses and lime are employed as binders in Ferro alloy plant for chrome ore briquetting. However, use of molasses and lime in briquetting of chrome ore leads to high phosphorous content in the final briquette, which is noted to increase phosphorous content in the Ferro chrome produced from such briquette. However, it is desired and essential to produce low phosphorous ferro chromes to produce alloy steels for application in oil and gas line pipes, razor blades, special welding electrodes.

In order to achieve low phosphorous chrome ore briquette various binder materials are employed. For instance, US005302341A describes agglomeration of fines and ultrafine composition employing poly isocyanate based co-reactant based binder and an amine catalyst for generating briquettes, which are cured by placing in a heated conveyor. Further, US2775566A describes agglomeration of finely divided metal oxide using binders containing components such as saponified stearic acid, an alcohol-soluble, water-insoluble phenol formaldehyde resin and a water soluble partially condensed urea formaldehyde resin. However, in both the described publications, application of heat treatment at a temperature ranging from 800 ºC to 1500 ºC to the agglomerated briquettes is inevitable. Further, IN238148B describes mixing of chrome concentrate microfines with binder comprising Novolac liquid and Novolac powder and hexamine catalyst to make briquettes, followed by heat treatment at 150 ºC. However, the binder employed in this publication is not economical (expensive) and there is a need for heat treatment of briquette.

Thus, there is a need for preparing chrome ore briquette with low phosphorous content that it is economical and simple. The present disclosure addresses the need by describing briquette composition which is economical and produces briquette with low phosphorous content.
STATEMENT OF THE DISCLOSURE
Accordingly, the present disclosure relates to briquette composition comprising chrome ore, bentonite and anionic polyacrylamide for preparing chrome ore briquette having low phosphorous content and improved cold compressive strength (CCS) and thermal stability.

The present disclosure further relates to process of preparing the composition, said method comprises- mixing the chrome ore, the bentonite and the anionic polyacrylamide to obtain the composition.

The present disclosure further relates to chrome ore briquette comprising the composition described above,

The present disclosure further relates to a method of producing the chrome ore briquette, said method comprises- mixing the composition with solvent to obtain mixture, followed by pressing the mixture and curing to obtain the briquette.

The present disclosure also relates to a method of producing low phosphorous chrome ore briquette employing composite binder comprising bentonite and anionic polyacrylamide, said method comprises- mixing chrome ore with the composite binder, followed by adding solvent to obtain mixture; and pressing the mixture, followed by curing to obtain low phosphorous chrome ore briquette.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING FIGURES
In order that the present disclosure may be readily understood and put into practical effect, reference will now be made to exemplary embodiments as illustrated with reference to the accompanying figures. The figures together with detailed description below, are incorporated in and form part of the specification, and serve to further illustrate the embodiments and explain various principles and advantages, where:

Figure 1 illustrates a plot depicting size analysis of chrome ore fines.

Figure 2 illustrates a plot depicting cold compressive strength (CCS) of chrome ore briquette.

Figure 3 illustrates a plot depicting thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) curves of chrome ore briquette.
Figure 4 illustrates a plot depicting weight loss and cold compressive strength (CCS) profile of chrome ore briquette under temperature ranging from about 400 ºC to 1400 ºC.

Figure 5 illustrates a plot depicting cold compressive strength (CCS) of briquette prepared from compositions having varied concentration of bentonite and anionic polyacrylamide.

Figure 6 provides schematic representation of formation of the briquette employing chrome ore, bentonite and anionic polyacrylamide.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DISCLOSURE
Unless otherwise defined, all terms used in the disclosure, including technical and scientific terms, have meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which this disclosure belongs. By means of further guidance, term definitions are included for better understanding of the present disclosure.

As used herein, the singular forms ‘a’, ‘an’ and ‘the’ include both singular and plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.

The term ‘comprising’, ‘comprises’ or ‘comprised of’ as used herein are synonymous with ‘including’, ‘includes’, ‘containing’ or ‘contains’ and are inclusive or open-ended and do not exclude additional, non-recited members, elements or method steps.

The recitation of numerical ranges by endpoints includes all numbers and fractions subsumed within the respective ranges, as well as the recited endpoints.

The term ‘about’ as used herein when referring to a measurable value such as a parameter, an amount, a temporal duration, and the like, is meant to encompass variations of ±10% or less, preferably ±5% or less, more preferably ±1% or less and still more preferably ±0.1% or less of and from the specified value, insofar such variations are appropriate to perform the present disclosure. It is to be understood that the value to which the modifier ‘about’ refers is itself also specifically, and preferably disclosed.

Reference throughout this specification to ‘some embodiments’, ‘one embodiment’ or ‘an embodiment’ means that a particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment may be included in at least one embodiment of the present disclosure. thus, the appearances of the phrases ‘in some embodiments’, ‘in one embodiment’ or ‘in an embodiment’ in various places throughout this specification may not necessarily all refer to the same embodiment. It is appreciated that certain features of the disclosure, which are for clarity, described in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features of the disclosure, which are, for brevity described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any suitable sub-combination.

The present disclosure relates to a briquette composition, which is economical and provides for chrome ore briquette having improved cold compressive strength (CCS) and improved thermal stability.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the composition comprises chrome ore, bentonite and anionic polyacrylamide.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the chrome ore is in an amount ranging from about 90 wt% to 95 wt%, including all the values in the range, for instance, 90.1 wt%, 90.2 wt%, 90.3 wt%, 90.4 wt% and so on and so forth.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the bentonite is in an amount ranging from about 1 wt% to 5 wt%, including all the values in the range, for instance, 1.1 wt%, 1.2 wt%, 1.3 wt%, 1.4 wt% and so on and so forth.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the anionic polyacrylamide is in an amount ranging from about 0.5 wt% to 5 wt%, including all the values in the range, for instance, 0.6 wt%, 0.7 wt%, 0.8 wt%, 0.9 wt% and so on and so forth.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the composition comprises about 90 wt% to 98 wt% of the chrome ore, about 1 wt % to 5 wt% of the bentonite and about 0.5 wt% to 5 wt% of the anionic polyacrylamide.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the composition comprises about 95 wt%, about 96.1 wt%, about 96.2 wt%, about 96.3 wt% or about 96.4 wt% of the chrome ore; about 3 wt% of the bentonite; and about 1 wt%, about 0.9 wt%, 0.8 wt%, 0.7 wt% or 0.6 wt% of the anionic polyacrylamide.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the chrome ore comprises about of 0.003-0.006 % K2O, about 0.01-0.03% of Na2O, about 0.1-0.2 % of CaO, about 11-14 % of SiO2, 0.001-0.004 % of S, about 9-13 % of Fe(T), about 45-51% of Cr2O3, about 0.004-0.008 % of P, about 8-12 % of MgO, about 0.4-0.6% of MnO, about 8-12% of Al2O3 and about 0.1-0.4% of TiO2.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the chrome ore has loss on ignition (LOI) ranging from about 2.0 to 6.0, including all the values in the range, for instance, 2.1, 2.2, 2.3, 2.4 and so on and so forth.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, in the composition, about 80% of the chrome ore has size ranging from about 1.2 mm to 1.8 mm and about 14% of the chrome ore has size ranging from about -3mm to + 1mm.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the bentonite comprises about 0.5-0.9% of K2O, about 3-6 % of Na2O, about 1.5-4 % of CaO, about 37-45% of SiO2, about 12-15% of Fe(T), about 0.01-0.02% of P, about 1.55-4% of MgO, about 0.1-0.3% of MnO, about 10-13% of Al2O3 and about 1.1-3% of TiO2.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the anionic polyacrylamide comprises 1-3% of S, less than 0.1 ppm of P, about 52-55% of C, about 4-8% of H, about 14-18% of N, about 18-24% of O.

The present disclosure further relates to process of preparing the composition described above.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the process of preparing the composition comprises- mixing the chrome ore, the bentonite and the anionic polyacrylamide to obtain the composition.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the process comprises- mixing about 90 wt% to 98 wt% of the chrome ore, about 1 wt % to 5 wt% of the bentonite and about 0.5 wt% to 5 wt% anionic polyacrylamide to obtain the composition.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the mixing in the process is carried out in a manner that homogenous composition is obtained.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the mixing is carried out at a temperature ranging from about 24 ºC to 27 ºC, for a duration ranging from about 5 minutes to 20 minutes, including all the values in the range, for instance, 5.1 minutes, 5.2 minutes, 5.3 minutes, 5.4 minutes and so on and so forth.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the mixing is carried out at a temperature ranging from about 24.5 ºC, about 25.5 ºC, about 26 ºC, about 26.5 ºC or about 27 ºC.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the mixing is carried out by technique including but not limited to Hobart mixer and Eirich mixer.

The present disclosure further relates to chrome ore briquette.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the chrome ore briquette comprises the composition described above.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the chrome ore briquette comprises about 90 wt% to 98 wt% of the chrome ore, about 1 wt % to 5 wt% of the bentonite and about 0.5 wt% to 5 wt% the anionic polyacrylamide.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the chrome ore briquette has moisture content ranging from about 2% to 6%, including all the values in the range for instance, 2.1%, 2.2%, 2.3%, 2.4% and so on and so forth.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the chrome ore briquette has cold compressive strength (CCS) ranging from about 200 kgf/briquette to 3000 kgf/briquette, including all the values in the range, for instance 201 kgf/briquette, 202 kgf/briquette, 203 kgf/briquette, 204 kgf/briquette and so on and so forth.

The inventors have identified that when the chrome ore briquette is subjected to heating at a temperature ranging from about 1300 ºC to 1500 ºC, the chrome ore briquette has cold compressive strength ranging from about 350 kgf/briquette to 400 kgf/briquette, including all the values in the range, for instance, 351 kgf/briquette, 352 kgf/briquette, 353 kgf/briquette, 354 kgf/briquette and so on and so forth. The inventors have particularly identified that use of combination of bentonite and anionic polyacrylamide alongside chrome ore in the briquette composition leads to achieving the described CCS and thermal stability at high temperature ranging from 1300 ºC to 1500 ºC.
Anionic polyacrylamide is electron rich species where oxygen atoms of amide group get linked with the metal atom of ore. As illustrated in Figure 6, the anionic polyacrylamide develops a crosslinking chain binding the ore particles. Oxygen atom of the chrome ore particles after getting the moisture also forms a hydrogen bond with the water molecules added while preparation. The electrostatic attraction and Vander wall forces among the molecules further result into a strong compact closely bonded.
In an embodiment, the Figure 2 of the present disclosure shows that only the combination of bentonite and anionic polyacrylamide in the briquette composition leads to chrome ore briquette having improved cold compressive strength (CCS). Further, Figure 5 of the present disclosure describes cold compressive strength (CCS) strength of chrome ore briquette prepared by briquette composition comprising chrome ore and having varied amounts of bentonite and anionic polyacrylamide, respectively.

In an embodiment, the Figure 4 of the present disclosure describes improved thermal stability of the chrome ore briquette. From the Figure 4 it can be noted that, as the temperature increases from 500 ºC to 1400 ºC, the cold compressive strength increases which is mainly due to insitu bonding of the available functional groups of the binder composite (comprising bentonite and anionic polyacrylamide) with metal oxide of chrome ore as well as phase formation from the bentonite due to sintering at varied temperature. Weight loss of chrome ore briquette at higher temperature can be noted in the plot of the Figure 4. Weight loss is observed during post heat treatment of briquettes which embarks thermal stability property of the chrome ore briquette. Further, the Figure 3 of the present disclosure describes the improved high temperature resistant property of the chrome ore briquette.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the chrome ore briquette has high thermal strength at temperature ranging from about 1300 ºC to 1500 ºC, including all the values in the range, for instance, 1301 ºC, 1302 ºC, 1303 ºC, 1304 ºC and so on and so forth.
In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the chrome ore briquette has reduced phosphorous content when compared to conventionally known chrome ore briquettes. The inventors have particularly identified that employing briquette composition comprising chrome fines and binder composite including bentonite and anionic polyacrylamide, produces briquettes having reduced phosphorous content. The inventors have identified that employing binder composite comprising bentonite and anionic polyacrylamide in the briquette composition alongside chrome ore produces chrome ore briquette having reduced or same phosphorus content when compared to the briquette composition. In other words, the use of binder composite having specific amounts of bentonite and anionic polyacrylamide does not lead to increase in the phosphorous content in the obtained chrome ore briquette.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the chrome ore briquette has phosphorous content ranging from about 0.006% to 0.008%.

The present disclosure further relates to method of producing the chrome ore briquettes described above.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the method of producing the chrome ore briquette comprise-
- mixing the composition comprising the chrome ore, the bentonite and the anionic polyacrylamide with solvent to obtain mixture; and
- pressing the mixture, followed by curing to obtain the chrome ore briquette.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the solvent includes but it is not limited to water.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the pressing is carried out by technique including but not limited to hydraulic press and roller press. In an embodiment, the pressing is carried out under pressure ranging from about 5 kgf/cm2 to 25 kgf/cm2.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the curing is carried out at a temperature ranging from about 24 ºC to 30 ºC, for a duration ranging from about 70 hours to 90 hours, including all the values in the range, for instance, 71 hours, 72 hours, 73 hours, 74 hours and so on and so forth.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the curing is carried out at a temperature ranging from about 24 ºC, about 25 ºC, about 26 ºC, about 27 ºC, about 28 ºC, about 29 ºC or about 30 ºC.

The present disclosure relates to use of composite binder comprising bentonite and anionic polyacrylamide for producing low phosphorous chrome ore briquette.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, method of producing low phosphorous chrome ore briquette employing the composite binder comprising bentonite and anionic polyacrylamide, comprises-
- mixing chrome ore with the composite binder, followed by adding solvent to obtain the mixture; and
- pressing the mixture, followed by curing to obtain the low phosphorous chrome ore briquette.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, the composite binder comprises about 1% to 5% of the bentonite and 0.5% to 5% of the anionic polyacrylamide.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, in the method of producing the low phosphorous chrome ore briquette, the composite binder is in an amount ranging from about 1% to 6 %.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, in the method of producing the low phosphorous chrome ore briquette, the chrome ore is in an amount ranging from about 0.006% to 0.008%.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, in the method of producing the low phosphorous chrome ore briquette, the solvent includes but it is not limited to water. In an embodiment, the solvent is in an amount ranging from about 2 % to 6 %.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, in the method of producing the low phosphorous chrome ore briquette, the solvent is added to maintain moisture content ranging from about 2% to 6%, including all the values in the range, for instance, 2.1%, 2.2%, 2.3%, 2.4% and so on and so forth.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, in the method of producing the low phosphorous chrome ore briquette, the pressing is carried out for a duration ranging from about 0.5 minutes to 2 minutes. In an embodiment, the pressing is carried out by technique including but not limited to hydraulic press and roller press. In an embodiment, the pressing is carried out under pressure ranging from about 15 kgf/cm2 to 25 kgf/cm2, including all the values in the range, for instance, 15.1 kgf/cm2, 15.2 kgf/cm2, 15.3 kgf/cm2, 15.4 kgf/cm2 and so on and so forth.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, in the method of producing the low phosphorous chrome ore briquette, the curing is carried out at a temperature ranging from about 24 ºC to 30 ºC, for a duration ranging from about 70 hours to 90 hours, including all the values in the range, for instance, 71 hours, 72 hours, 73 hours, 74 hours and so on and so forth. In an embodiment, the curing is carried at a temperature of about 24 ºC, about 25 ºC, about 26 ºC, about 27 ºC, about 28 ºC, about 29 ºC or about 30 ºC.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, in the method of producing the low phosphorous chrome ore briquette, the chrome ore briquette has low phosphorous content ranging from about 0.006% to 0.008%.

In some embodiments of the present disclosure, in the method of producing the low phosphorous chrome ore briquette, the chrome ore briquette has cold compressive strength ranging from about 200 kg/briquette to 3000 kgf/briquette, including all the values in the range, for instance 201 kgf/briquette, 202 kgf/briquette, 203 kgf/briquette, 204 kgf/briquette and so on and so forth.

The briquette composition and the chrome ore briquette of the present disclosure provides for the following advantages-
- the chrome ore briquette obtained from the briquette composition including the bentonite and the anionic polyacrylamide has improved CCS ranging from about 350 kgf/briquette to 400 kgf/briquette.
- the chrome ore briquette obtained from the briquette composition including the bentonite and the anionic polyacrylamide possesses improved thermal stability at temperature ranging from about 1300 ºC to 1500 ºC.
- the briquette composition employed to prepare the chrome ore briquette having improved CCS and improved thermal stability is economical and environmentally friendly.
- the chrome ore briquette obtained from the briquette composition including the bentonite and the anionic polyacrylamide has low phosphorous content in the range of 0.006% to 0.008%.

It is to be understood that the foregoing description is illustrative not a limitation. While considerable emphasis has been placed herein on particular features of this disclosure, it will be appreciated that various modifications can be made, and that many changes can be made in the preferred embodiments without departing from the principles of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will recognize that the embodiments herein can be practiced with modification within the spirit and scope of the embodiments as described herein. Similarly, additional embodiments and features of the present disclosure will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in art based upon description provided herein.

Descriptions of well-known/conventional methods/steps and techniques are omitted so as to not unnecessarily obscure the embodiments herein. Further, the disclosure herein provides for examples illustrating the above-described embodiments, and in order to illustrate the embodiments of the present disclosure, certain aspects have been employed. The examples used herein for such illustration are intended merely to facilitate an understanding of ways in which the embodiments may be practiced and to further enable those of skill in the art to practice the embodiments. Accordingly, following examples should not be construed as limiting the scope of the embodiments herein.

EXAMPLES
Example 1: Preparing the briquette composition
About 96.3g of chrome ore and about 3.7 g of binder composite comprising 3 g of bentonite and 0.7 g of anionic polyacrylamide were mixed in Hobart mixer at a temperature ranging from about 24 ºC to 27ºC to obtain homogenous briquette composition.

Example 2: Preparing the briquette composition
The briquette compositions were prepared as per the procedure described above under Example 1. The amounts of the chrome ore, the bentonite and the anionic polyacrylamide employed for the preparation of the briquette compositions are described in Table 1.

Briquette Composition Bentonite (%) Anionic polyacrylamide (%) Chrome ore fines
%
Composition- 1 3 1 96
Composition- 2 3 0.9 96.1
Composition- 3 3 0.8 96.2
Composition- 4 3 0.7 96.3
Composition- 5 3 0.6 96.4

Table 1:

Example 3: Preparing the chrome ore briquette
The briquette compositions described in Example 2 were independently mixed with water to maintain moisture content of about 6% to obtain mixtures, respectively. The obtained mixtures were subjected to pressing under hydraulic press at a pressure of about 15 to 25 kgf/cm2 to obtain the shape and form of briquettes. The obtained briquettes were subjected to curing at a temperature ranging from about 24 ºC to 30 ºC for about 72 hours to obtain the chrome ore briquettes. Table 2 describes the cold compressive strength of the obtained briquettes.

Briquette composition (according to Example 2) Chrome ore briquette Cold compressive strength (kgf/briquette)
Composition- 1 Briquette-1 563.5
Composition- 2 Briquette-2 268
Composition- 3 Briquette-3 206.5
Composition- 4 Briquette-4 242
Composition- 5 Briquette-5 261

Table 2:

Further, Table 3 describes the cold compressive strength and phosphorous content of the chrome ore briquette obtained by the briquette composition of the present disclosure (compositions 1 to 5, according to Example 2) and comparative briquette compositions.

Briquette composition Cold compressive strength of the briquette (kgf/briquette) Phosphorous Content (%) in the briquette
chrome ore, bentonite, carboxymethyl cellulose-poly acryclic acid -methyl acrylate copolymer (comparative composition) 334 0.093
chrome ore, bentonite, pregel starch (comparative composition) 365 0.0067
chrome ore, bentonite, Sodium absorbent polymer (comparative composition) 55.35 0.087
Chrome ore, bentonite, Dextrin (comparative composition) 106 0.09
Chrome ore, bentonite, Modified starch (comparative composition) 237 0.087
chrome ore fines, bentonite and Anionic polyacrylamide (composition of the present disclosure) 816 0.0061
chrome ore fines, bentonite and Vinyl copolymer 798 0.095
chrome ore fines, bentonite and Alcotac CB6 (comparative composition) 534 0.096
chrome ore fines, bentonite and Acrobind (comparative composition) 149 0.087
chrome ore fines, and Pregel starch (comparative composition) 241 0.006

Table 3:
The data in Table 3 establishes that the chromite ore briquette obtained from the briquette composition of the present disclosure has both improved cold compressive strength and low phosphorous content when compared to briquettes obtained from comparative compositions.