The effect of calcination temperature on the structure of iron oxide phase from west Sumatra

Abstract This research aimed to investigate the effect of calcination temperature on phase changes and the structure of iron oxide contained in iron ore from the area of West Sumatra. Complex geological regions in West Sumatra contribute to the characteristics of iron ore in the area. The calcination temperature used is 26 °C, 300 °C and 500 °C. The characterization tools used are X-ray powder diffractometer (XRD) and X-ray Fluorescence (XRF). The results of the analysis using XRF showed that this iron ore contained Fe content of 69.59% and after being purified at 87.50%. The results of the analysis using XRD indicate that the calcination temperature affects the iron oxide phase formed. At the calcination temperature of 300 °C, the iron oxide phase that appears is Magnetite, Hematite, and Maghemite. At the calcination temperature 500 °C the iron oxide phase that appears is Maghemite and hematite. The calcination temperature also affects changes in iron oxide structure. Structural changes that occur from cubic to cell units a = b = c = 8,3985 Å for Tetragonal structures with unit cells a = b 8,3460 Å and c = 25,0340 Å then to Rhombohedral structure a = b = 5,0320 Å and c = 13,7362 Å .