The process used for increasing particle size of iron ores to make them suitable for steel manufacturing is called:

The process used for increasing particle size of iron ores to make them suitable for steel manufacturing is called:

• A. Reduction
• B. Sintering
• C. Agglomeration
• D. Blending

Answer: (C)

Agglomeration is the process of forming larger masses from fine iron ore particles so they can be handled and fed into steelmaking more efficiently. When ore fines are too small, they cause handling dust, poor flow, and limited bed permeability in furnaces; turning those fines into bigger, porous aggregates—such as pellets or sintered beds—improves flow, heat transfer, and overall efficiency in the blast furnace or other steelmaking processes. Reduction refers to chemically removing oxygen from iron oxide to produce iron, not increasing particle size. Blending is about mixing different ores or sizes to achieve a uniform feed, which also doesn’t change particle size. Sintering is one specific method of agglomeration that uses heat to fuse fines into a porous mass; while it’s a common technique, the broader term for increasing particle size is agglomeration.

Agglomeration is the process of forming larger masses from fine iron ore particles so they can be handled and fed into steelmaking more efficiently. When ore fines are too small, they cause handling dust, poor flow, and limited bed permeability in furnaces; turning those fines into bigger, porous aggregates—such as pellets or sintered beds—improves flow, heat transfer, and overall efficiency in the blast furnace or other steelmaking processes. Reduction refers to chemically removing oxygen from iron oxide to produce iron, not increasing particle size. Blending is about mixing different ores or sizes to achieve a uniform feed, which also doesn’t change particle size. Sintering is one specific method of agglomeration that uses heat to fuse fines into a porous mass; while it’s a common technique, the broader term for increasing particle size is agglomeration.