Abstract:The effect of C/O ratio of pelletizing on characteristics of grain growth of ferronickel in direct reduction of laterite with rotary kiln was studied on the conditions that reduction temperature was 1 360 ℃, reduction time was 3 h, and CaO/ore ratio of palletizing was 7%. The results indicated that the optimal C/O ratio was 2, based on the reducing conditions, and more than 80% grain size of ferronickel was greater than 1 mm. It was not favorable for metal phase agglomeration and growth when C/O ratio was too high or too low. There was no grain of ferronickel generated when C/O ratio was relatively low andthe grain size of ferronickel was too small when C/O ratio was relatively high.