Process of obtaining high iron content products from fines of iron ore and biomass, and their products

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for producing high iron-content products with a high physical and metallurgical performance for use in reduction furnaces (high-temperature and direct reduction furnaces) and smelting furnaces (smelters, melters and electric furnaces), aimed at the sustainable production or iron and steel. The method consists in mixing iron ore fines with biomass, binders, nanomaterials, additives and catalysts, and in subsequent comminution, agglomeration, thermal treatment, solid-solid separation and coating steps.

Description

"PROCESS FOR OBTAINING HIGH-IRON CONTENT PRODUCTS FROM IRON ORE FINES AND BIOMASS, AND THEIR PRODUCTS" FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention falls within the field of mineral-metallurgical technologies and relates to a process for obtaining high-performance products from iron ore fines and a renewable carbon source derived from biomass. The process allows the production of high-iron content products with high physical and metallurgical performance for use in reduction furnaces (blast furnaces and direct reduction) and melting furnaces (melters and electric arc furnaces), aiming at the sustainable production of iron and steel. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] The development of agglomeration technology stemmed from the need to recover fine particles, enabling the commercial use of these particles and minimizing the environmental impact caused by the production of fine or particulate material.

[0003] The most frequent applications of agglomeration processes are for the utilization of: • fine-grained ores or concentrates, without causing damage to the permeability of the charge and to the gas-solid reaction conditions in metallurgical furnaces; • waste, or fine by-products from other mining and metallurgical processes, for their appropriate reuse or recycling; and • Metallic waste (copper, iron, titanium) and other materials (paper, cotton, wood) for transport or recycling.

[0004] The agglomeration operations of iron ore, and its partially or totally reduced compounds, are intended to impart to the charges the To be fed into reduction reactors and / or melting furnaces, the material must have a suitable shape and appropriate mechanical strength to withstand the countercurrent flow of the descending solid charge and ascending heating and / or reducing gases, as well as the transport, storage, and ensiling processes, before being loaded into reduction reactors and melting furnaces for the production of pig iron or steel. The most common processes for agglomerating iron ores and their reduced products used as feedstock in reduction furnaces and melting furnaces in the steel industry are: sintering and pelletizing (for iron oxides) and briquetting (for iron oxides and metallic iron - DRI).

[0005] Pelletizing is the most recent agglomeration process and resulted from the need to use fine magnetite concentrates from certain iron ores. Iron ore pellets are produced by agglomerating particles smaller than 45 µm, forming pellets of 8 to 16 mm, in a rotating disc or drum. The material to be agglomerated needs to have a high specific surface area (2,000 cm²). 2 / g), in addition to constant moisture. These pellets are typically hardened through heat treatment and used as feedstock in blast furnaces or in direct reduction. This hardening process has a high capital cost, as well as being energy intensive.

[0006] Briquetting consists of agglomerating fine particles through compression, aided by binders, allowing the production of a compacted product with appropriate shape, size, and mechanical parameters. The mixture of fine particles and binder is pressed to obtain agglomerates called briquettes, which must have adequate strength for stacking, subsequent treatment (curing, drying, or burning), transport, handling, and use in metallurgical reactors. The reduction of The volume of material, in addition to the technological benefits, allows fine materials to be transported and stored more economically.

[0007] Concern for environmental issues, resulting in stricter laws, along with the need to economically utilize waste and fine particles generated in ore processing, has made briquetting an important alternative for agglomerating fine materials, giving them economic value.

[0008] Briquetting is done with binders when the material to be agglomerated does not have resistance to compression and impact after being compacted. The pressures used are usually low to avoid further fragmentation of the particles.

[0009] The present invention relates to a process for obtaining high-performance physical and metallurgical products, which may or may not be agglomerated. The products resulting from the present invention are produced from a mixture of iron ore fines (including tailings, pre-reduced and metallized), biomass, binders, nanomaterials, additives and catalysts. In the case of agglomerated products, the agglomeration process can occur by pelletizing in a disc or drum pelletizing machine, by briquetting or by extrusion.

[0010] The carbothermic reduction process, employed in the present invention, consists of the chemical processing of oxide reduction using CO (carbon monoxide) gas originating from a substance carrying the element carbon, traditionally in the 'forms' of mineral coal, coke or charcoal.

[0011] The state of the art presents several carbothermic reduction technologies. These technologies are based on the carbothermic reduction of iron ore agglomerates (pellets, briquettes and extrudates) using Mineral coal, charcoal, or coal coke, with a high proportion of organic and inorganic binders (tar, cement, silicates, bitumen, starch, among others), aiming to provide a minimum physical resistance for handling, usually under weathering conditions, and thermochemical stresses in the processes in which they are used. Many of these technologies aim to recycle waste with high iron and / or carbon content (such as scale, screening fines, process exhaust dust, fines and thickener sludge collected in dust removal systems). Self-reducing agglomerates are used in conventional reduction furnaces such as small / medium blast furnaces and reduction-melting reactors (e.g., Tecnored, ITmk3, Hi-sarna, Fastmet).The heat supplied for the direct reduction and carbon gasification reactions (Solution Loss at temperatures >850°C) to occur is provided in conventional furnaces by the combustion of solid fuels (coke, coal, and biomass) and by the combustion of gases (LPG, natural gas, and gases generated in steelmaking processes such as coke oven gas, blast furnace gas, and steelmaking gas).

[0012] The present invention minimizes several problems by using microwaves instead of conventional ovens that use solid fuels and gases that emit GHG; the need for high binder dosages; long product reduction times; low resistance to water contact; high generation of fines during transport and handling; high generation of fines due to thermal shock; and contamination by undesirable elements from certain binders. The present invention presents a simplified process of unit operations that reduces CAPEX and OPEX costs.

[0013] In particular, the present invention, in its Route 3, presents a significant advantage over the prior art documents. This refers to the elimination of the need for prior agglomeration of large volumes of base mixture, significantly reducing process costs (CAPEX and OPEX). In the prior art, there is no technology capable of industrially performing carbothermic reduction without prior agglomeration of the mixture of iron ore fines and biomass. The present invention, therefore, is significantly innovative, exhibiting high reduction efficiency (metallic Fe > 50%, as shown in Figure 5).

[0014] The present invention offers several advantages compared to processes commonly used industrially, such as: • the possibility of using different sources of iron ore fines (sinter feed, pellet feed and / or ultrafine tailings); • the possibility of using various types of biomass, including pyrolyzed or non-pyrolyzed biomass; • Wide applicability in reduction and melting furnaces, due to the physical and metallurgical qualities of the product obtained; • An important technological alternative capable of promoting commercial and strategic benefits for the company and its clients; • Greater flexibility in process routing, providing steelmaking customers with blast furnace (BF) routing with extended asset lifespan, reducing CAPEX, without compromising the achievement of short- and medium-term CO2 emission reduction targets; • Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the iron and steel production chain; • cost reduction due to the possibility of lower binder consumption for agglomeration and the possibility of greater use of ores with lower iron content and higher silica content, which can be concentrated, in a later step, by magnetic separation, since The materials resulting from the reduction of hematite are either magnetic or strongly paramagnetic. OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

[0015] The present invention has the general objective of providing a new process for obtaining a high-iron content product that offers greater flexibility in process routes, allowing steelmaking customers to extend the useful life of their assets, reducing CAPEX, without compromising the achievement of CO2 emission reduction targets.

[0016] Another objective of the present invention is to obtain a product from iron ore fines and biomass, with excellent physical and metallurgical performance, and wide applicability in reduction and melting furnaces.

[0017] Another objective of the present invention is to reduce the environmental impact generated, since it allows for the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in the iron and steel production chain, due to the substitution of natural gas and coal with biomass for the reduction of iron oxides, in addition to allowing the use of iron ore tailings, whose ultrafine fraction is normally disposed of in tailings dams. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0018] The present invention, as shown in Figure 1, discloses a process for obtaining a high-iron content product from iron ore fines and a renewable carbon source derived from biomass, comprising the following steps: a) mixing iron ore fines, biomass, binders, nanomaterials, additives and catalysts in an intensive mixer; b) perform at least one selected step from the group consisting of agglomeration and carbothermic reduction; c) perform at least one selected step from the group consisting of solid-solid separation, carbothermic reduction and agglomeration.

[0019] Furthermore, the present invention, as shown in Figure 1, may comprise an additional step of: a) performing at least one step selected from the group consisting of drying / curing and coating application; b) performing carbothermic reduction; c) performing coating application. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The present invention is described in detail based on the respective figures:

[0021] Figure 1 illustrates a flowchart of the process for obtaining metallized and pre-reduced iron ore products by carbothermic reduction in microwaves, as well as iron ore briquettes with biomass, according to the present invention.

[0022] Figure 2 illustrates a schematic representation of the microwave oven that was used during the bench-scale carbothermic reduction testing phase (Routes 2 and 3).

[0023] Figure 3 shows images of samples of non-agglomerated base mixture, before and after the carbothermic reduction step, their total magnetization, and the morphologies of the metallic residue obtained.

[0024] Figure 4 shows the relationship between the residual mass after reduction and the metallic iron content of the carbothermic reduction residue for Routes 2 and 3.

[0025] Figure 5 shows the metallic iron content obtained in relation to the microwave exposure time (with a power of 1.0 kW) and the amount of carbon contained in the base mixture before carbothermic reduction.

[0026] Figure 6 shows the metallic iron content obtained in relation to specific energy (Gj / t product) and the amount of carbon contained in the base mixture before carbothermic reduction in the microwave.

[0027] Figure 7 shows the XRD results of the residues obtained after carbothermic reduction (Routes 2 and 3) of agglomerated and non-agglomerated base mixture formulations and indicates the total Fe content of the ferric component of the base mixture prior to carbothermic reduction.

[0028] Figure 8 shows the XRD results of the residues obtained after carbothermic reduction (Route 3) of residual sludge formulations from non-agglomerated iron ore concentration and indicates the total Fe content of the ferric component of the base mixture prior to carbothermic reduction.

[0029] Figure 9 illustrates a schematic representation of the semi-industrial microwave oven to be used during the carbothermic reduction step, in this case using a base mixture as feed (Route 3). DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0030] Although the present invention may be susceptible to different embodiments, preferred embodiments are shown in the drawings and in the following detailed discussion, with the understanding that the present description should be considered an exemplification of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the present invention to what has been illustrated and described herein.

[0031] The subject matter required in the present invention will be detailed hereafter by way of example and not limitation, since the materials and The methods disclosed herein may include different details and procedures, without departing from the scope of the invention. Unless otherwise indicated, all parts and percentages disclosed hereafter are by weight.

[0032] The present invention relates to a process for obtaining a high-iron content product, as represented by the flowchart in Figure 1, which preferably begins with a mixture of at least 60% by weight of iron ore fines; up to 30% by weight of biomass; up to 15% by weight of binders; up to 15% by weight of nanomaterials; and up to 15% by weight of chemical additives and catalysts. More specifically, up to 20% by weight of biomass, preferably pyrolyzed, can be used. This base mixture should be carried out in an intensive mixer.

[0033] Raw materials that can be used as sources of iron ore fines include sinter feed, pellet feed, or ultrafine iron ore tailings. The particle size of this material should be less than 10 mm, with a d90 between 10 µm and 8 mm and a maximum moisture content of 25%. The chemical composition should have the following characteristics: 30 to 68% iron (total Fe), 0.5 to 15% SiO2, 0.1 to 5.0% Al2O3, 0.001 to 0.1% P, 0.1 to 2% Mn, and 0.1 to 10% loss on ignition.

[0034] The biomass used can come from different sources, such as eucalyptus, elephant grass, residues such as sugarcane bagasse, among other biomasses and residues. Preferably, the biomass should contain the following chemical composition: 0.5 to 25.0% ash; 1 to 80% volatile matter; < 1% sulfur and 20 to 80% fixed carbon. Biomass can also be used in pyrolyzed form, also called biocarbon.

[0035] The binders to be used include sodium silicate (solid and liquid state), pre-gelatinized cassava or corn starch, vegetable resins, polymers, geopolymers, among others. Binders are used... together with chemical catalysts and nanomaterials, forming an additive-enhanced agglomerating mixture.

[0036] Chemical catalysts, such as Ca, K, Na, Ni, Si, and W, can be used to accelerate the carbothermic reduction rate and also ensure better homogeneity in the microwave heating of the agglomerate.

[0037] The nanomaterials to be used can be selected from the group consisting of: carbon nanotubes, exfoliated graphite, functionalized microsilicate, tubular nanosilica, tubular halloysite, carbon nanofibers, graphene, among others.

[0038] The chemical additives to be used in the coating process can be based on C, Al, Ni, ferruginous kaolinite, or other materials with high reduction potential, such as bauxite, alumina, polymers, latex, among others. Furthermore, if necessary, calcium and dolomite-based fluxes can be used as raw materials in the production of the self-reducing briquette (Route 1) as additives.

[0039] As shown in the flowchart in Figure 1, after the intensive mixing stage, the material that will follow Route 1 must undergo the agglomeration stage. The material must be agglomerated by mechanical processes (briquetting, extrusion or pelleting) in order to provide sufficient green strength for handling, sieving and drying / curing.

[0040] Optionally, the base mixture obtained in the intensive mixer may be subjected to a comminution process, with the aim of increasing the specific surface area and adhesion between particles. Preferably, comminution should be carried out by pressing using a roller press, roller crusher, or other comminution device in different quantities (partial or complete).

[0041] After the agglomeration stage, the material must undergo a particle size classification stage, preferably sieving, so that the undersize (fraction < 5mm) returns to the intensive mixer, and the oversize (fraction > 5mm) proceeds to the drying / curing stage. Preferably, drying / curing should be carried out in a dryer, in a microwave oven or conventional gas-fired oven (including synthetic gas generated from biomass gasification), at a temperature in the range of 240 to 400°C, in order to remove excess moisture and also cure the contained binder, aiming to provide sufficient resistance for handling, storage, transport and use with top entry in blast furnaces.

[0042] The agglomerated product obtained via this route is considered a self-reducing agglomerate, containing approximately 6 to 20% carbon and 40 to 60% total iron.

[0043] As shown in the flowchart in Figure 1, after the intensive mixing stage, the material that will follow Route 2 must also undergo the agglomeration stage. The material must be agglomerated by mechanical processes (briquetting, extrusion, or pelletizing).

[0044] Optionally, the mixture obtained in the intensive mixer may be subjected to a comminution process, with the aim of increasing the specific surface area and adhesion between particles. Preferably, comminution should be carried out by pressing using a roller press, roller crusher, or other comminution device in different quantities (partial or complete).

[0045] After the agglomeration stage, the material must undergo a carbothermic reduction stage in a microwave oven or other type of oven, until it reaches temperatures between 500°C and 950°C, depending on the degree of reduction. The objective is to achieve a result that can range from the predominant formation of magnetite and / or maghemite to the complete, or near-complete, metallization of the iron oxides present in the base mixture. Optionally, carbothermic reduction can be carried out between 500°C and 800°C.

[0046] Microwave reduction can be performed in equipment with power ranging from 0.6kW to 10kW for frequencies of 2450MHz, and up to 100kW at a frequency of 915MHz, with multiples of these power levels possible for larger scales. Microwave equipment similar to that described in patent documents BR102020012185-5 and BR102019023195-5 can be used, preferably featuring a carbothermic reduction chamber for inert gas injection and an inert gas confinement system, as shown in Figure 2. Preferably, the inert gas used is nitrogen gas (N2).

[0047] After the carbothermic reduction stage, the material proceeds to the coating application stage, which aims to prevent reoxidation of the agglomerate's surface layers by atmospheric oxygen, improve its physical resistance, and also its resistance to weathering.

[0048] Optionally, an agglomeration step (briquetting, extrusion or pelletizing) can be carried out prior to the coating step. This briquetting step can be carried out cold or warm and, if necessary, an additive binder can be used.

[0049] The agglomerated product obtained through Route 2 of the present invention presents itself as a high-quality chemical, physical, and metallurgical alternative for use in reduction and melting furnaces (Blast Furnace - BF and Melters such as Electric Arc Furnace - EAF, for example). These agglomerated products have diameters ranging from 8 to 150 mm, different geometries, a total iron content above 60%, and a carbon content below 5%. If the objective is to... To obtain an agglomerate for use in AF (aluminum alloy), raw materials and process parameters are used in such a way as to obtain a final agglomerate containing 60 to 95% total iron. If the objective is to obtain an agglomerate for use in FEA (aluminum alloy), raw materials and process parameters are used in such a way as to obtain an agglomerate containing above 85% metallic iron.

[0050] As shown in the flowchart in Figure 1, after the intensive mixing stage, the material that will follow Route 3 must go directly to the carbothermic reduction stage in a microwave oven. As in Route 2, microwave reduction can be performed in equipment with a power ranging from 0.6kW to 10kW at frequencies of 2450MHz, and up to 100kW at a frequency of 915MHz, with multiples of these power levels possible for larger scales.

[0051] Optionally, the base mixture may be subjected to a comminution process, preferably carried out by pressing using a roller press, roller crusher, or other comminution device in different quantities (partial or complete).

[0052] After the carbothermic reduction stage, the material may or may not be disaggregated, depending on the physical conditions in which the product exits the microwave oven. The subsequent stage consists of a solid-solid separation step aimed at increasing the iron concentration, which may involve magnetic or gravitational separation. The low-iron concentrate obtained should return to the intensive mixer, while the iron-rich concentrate proceeds to the subsequent stages of the process.

[0053] The concentrate, which is in powder form and contains a high iron content, can already be considered a finished product ready for sale, as it is a highly metallized material (between 60% and 85% total iron). It has ideal characteristics for use in smelters or other melting furnaces.

[0054] Optionally, the concentrate containing a high iron content can proceed to an agglomeration stage, which can be carried out cold or warm and, if necessary, an additive-enhanced binder can be used. Agglomeration allows obtaining a product with a high-density particle size and shape for transport and handling, in addition to increasing protection against oxidation by the ambient atmosphere.

[0055] The agglomerate then proceeds to the coating application stage, as in Route 2, in order to prevent reoxidation of the agglomerate's surface layers by atmospheric oxygen and improve its physical resistance as well as its resistance to weathering.

[0056] Optionally, the material that feeds the agglomeration stage can come directly from carbothermic reduction, depending on the characteristics of the material after reduction in a microwave oven.

[0057] As with Route 2, the agglomerate obtained through Route 3 of the present invention presents itself as a high-quality chemical, physical, and metallurgical alternative for use in reduction furnaces (Blast Furnace - BF and melters such as the Electric Arc Furnace - EAF, for example). The agglomerates obtained through Route 3 have over 60% total iron. If the objective is to obtain an agglomerate to be used in BF, raw materials and process parameters are used in such a way as to obtain a final reduced agglomerate containing 60 to 95% total iron. If the objective is to obtain an agglomerate to be used in EAF, raw materials and process parameters are used in such a way as to obtain a final metallized agglomerate containing over 85% metallic iron.

[0058] Regarding compliance with physical quality specifications, the agglomerates were subjected to laboratory tests to evaluate their mechanical resistance. The parameters evaluated were abrasion resistance, where the products showed a result <25%, tumbling resistance (> 75%), impact / drop resistance (> 75%), and compression resistance (dry and after exposure to water, > 150 daN). Regarding chemical and metallurgical quality, tests were performed to evaluate the degree of metallization, the level of which depends on the feed and the objective, whether it is metallization (> 50%) or concentration (0 and 10%).

[0059] Figure 3 shows images of samples before and after the carbothermic reduction step, obtained according to Route 3, showing the morphology of metallic iron formation after microwave reduction of the mixture. The results obtained, as shown in Figures 5 and 6, indicated a metallic Fe content in both the non-agglomerated and agglomerated mixtures (according to Route 2) in the range of 50 to 80%, for base mixtures with a carbon content of around 20%.

[0060] EXAMPLE

[0061] With the aim of evaluating the quality and performance of the products obtained through Route 3 of the present invention, an experiment was carried out mixing 76% by mass of fine iron ore (Fe? > 64.5% and particle size < 325#) and 24% by mass of fine charcoal, derived from the pyrolysis of eucalyptus (Cfj). X0 > 75%, particle size < 1.0 mm), homogenized in an intensive mixer (Cfj X0(20%). Carbothermic reduction was performed in a microwave oven, as shown in Figure 2, at 1000 W power and a frequency of 2.45 GHz. The reduction took place for 20 minutes in an atmosphere inertized with N2.

[0062] The fine metallized product produced, as shown in Figure 3, had a metallic iron content of 76.7% and a total iron content of 89.9%, as shown in the XRD result in the graph in Figure 7.

[0063] Thus, although only some embodiments of the present invention have been shown, it will be understood that various omissions, substitutions, and alterations may be made by a person skilled in the art, without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The embodiments described should be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive.

[0064] It is expressly provided that all combinations of elements that perform the same function substantially in the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Substitutions of elements from one described embodiment for another are also fully intended and contemplated.

Claims

CLAIMS A process for obtaining a high-iron content product from iron ore fines and biomass, characterized by comprising the steps of: a. mixing iron ore fines, biomass, binders, nanomaterials, additives, and catalysts in an intensive mixer; b. performing at least one step selected from the group consisting of agglomeration and carbothermic reduction; c. performing at least one step selected from the group consisting of solid-solid separation, carbothermic reduction, and agglomeration. A process according to claim 1, characterized by comprising an additional step of: d. performing at least one step selected from the group consisting of drying / curing and coating application. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that, after the mixing step, a comminution step may be performed via pressing using a roller press, roller crusher, or other comminution device.Process according to claim 1, characterized by comprising the steps of: a. mixing iron ore fines, biomass, binders, nanomaterials, additives and catalysts in an intensive mixer; b. performing agglomeration via briquetting, pelletizing or extrusion; c. performing solid-solid separation via sieving; d. performing drying / curing. Process according to claim 1, characterized by comprising the steps of: a. Mixing iron ore fines, biomass, binders, nanomaterials, additives, and catalysts in an intensive mixer; b. Performing agglomeration via briquetting, pelletizing, or extrusion; c. Performing carbothermic reduction; d. Applying a coating. Process, according to claim 5, characterized in that, after the carbothermic reduction step, an additional agglomeration step via briquetting, pelletizing, or extrusion may be performed. Process, according to claim 1, characterized by comprising the steps of: a. mixing iron ore fines, biomass, binders, nanomaterials, additives, and catalysts in an intensive mixer; b. performing carbothermic reduction; c. performing agglomeration via briquetting, pelletizing, or extrusion; d. applying a coating.A process according to claim 7, characterized in that, after the carbothermic reduction step, a solid-solid separation step can be performed by means of magnetic separation or gravity separation. A process according to claim 1, characterized by comprising the steps of: a. mixing iron ore fines, biomass, binders, nanomaterials, additives and catalysts in an intensive mixer; b. performing carbothermic reduction; c. performing solid-solid separation by means of magnetic separation or gravity separation. A process according to claims 7 and 9, characterized in that, after the carbothermic reduction step, a disintegration step can be carried out. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that the carbothermic reduction is carried out in a microwave oven or conventional oven at temperatures in the range of 500°C to 950°C. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that the carbothermic reduction is carried out in a microwave oven or conventional oven at temperatures in the range of 500°C to 950°C. A process according to claim 2, characterized in that the drying / curing can be carried out in a microwave oven or conventional oven by burning fuels, at temperatures in the range of 240°C to 400°C.A process according to claim 1, characterized by using at least 60% by weight of iron ore fines with a particle size smaller than 10 mm, iron content (Fe-rota) of 30 to 68%, selected from the group consisting of sinter feed, pellet feed and ultrafine iron ore tailings. A process according to claim 1, characterized by using up to 30% by weight of biomass that may originate from eucalyptus, elephant grass, residues such as sugarcane bagasse, among others. A process according to claim 1, characterized by using up to 20% by weight of biomass that may originate from eucalyptus, elephant grass, residues such as sugarcane bagasse, among others. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that the biomass can be used in pyrolyzed form. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that the biomass has 20 to 80% fixed carbon. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that it uses up to 15% by weight of binders selected from the group consisting of sodium silicate, pre-gelatinized cassava or corn starch, vegetable resins, polymers, geopolymers, among others. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that it uses up to 15% by weight of catalysts selected from the group consisting of Ca, K, Na, Ni, Si and W. A process according to claim 1, characterized in that it uses up to 15% by weight of nanomaterials selected from the group consisting of carbon nanotubes, exfoliated graphite, functionalized microsilicate, tubular nanosilica, tubular halloysite, carbon nanofiber, graphene, among others.A process according to claim 1, characterized by the use of up to 15% by weight of chemical additives that may be based on C, Al, Ni, ferruginous kaolinite, or other materials with high reduction potential, such as bauxite, alumina, polymers, latex, among others. A process according to claim 1, characterized by the fact that the chemical additives used may contain calcium and dolomite-based fluxes. A high-iron content agglomerated product obtained from iron ore fines and biomass produced from the process described in claim 1, characterized by possessing chemical qualities... The product is a high-iron agglomerate obtained from iron ore fines and biomass, produced using the process described in claim 1, characterized by having suitable chemical, physical, and metallurgical qualities for use in reduction furnaces (blast furnaces) and having a diameter of 8 to 150 mm, 6 to 20% carbon content, and 40 to 60% total iron content, being considered a self-reducing agglomerate. It is a high-iron content agglomerate obtained from iron ore fines and biomass, produced using the process described in claim 1, characterized by having chemical, physical, and metallurgical qualities suitable for use in reduction and melting furnaces (blast furnaces - BF and melters such as electric arc furnaces - EAF, for example), having a diameter of 8 to 150 mm, a total iron content above 60%, a carbon content below 5%, abrasion resistance <25%, tumbling resistance >75%, impact / drop resistance >75%, compressive strength >150 daN, and a degree of metallization >50%. Agglomerated product, according to claim 25, characterized by having 60 to 95% total iron if the product is intended for use in a blast furnace.Agglomerated product according to claim 25, characterized by having more than 85% metallic iron if the product is intended for use in an Electric Arc Furnace - EAF. High-iron content product obtained from iron ore fines and biomass produced from the process described in claim 1, characterized by being in powder form and having chemical, physical and metallurgical qualities suitable for use in Smelters and other melting furnaces, as it is a highly metallized material (between 60% and 85% total iron).

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