The reserve of tin-bearing iron ores is very large in China. However, they
have not been utilized sufficiently so far due to the complex embedded
relationship between iron- and tin-bearing minerals. In the present work, the
behavior of tin in the tin-bearing iron concentrates during a reduction
sintering process (RSP) were studied using XRD, SEM-EDS, chemical valence
state analysis and morphology analysis. The results show that there is about
30 mass% tin deprived from the tinbearing iron concentrates by the RSP. The
tin-bearing phases remained in the finished sinters exist as the form of
stannic (Sn4+), stannous (Sn2+) compounds and metallic Sn (Sno). The
atmosphere in the sinter bed during the RSP is theoretically suitable for the
volatilization of SnO(g). However, the gas composition and temperature of the
sintering gas flow are changeable, which bring about adverse effect to the
deprivation of tin.