Reduction of Solid Iron Oxide by Carbon

Abstract

The reduction of pre-reduced iron oxide by carbon was investigated from a kinetic viewpoint. The experimental procedure included thermogravimetric analysis to measure the weight change of the iron oxide pellet. The activation energy of the overall reaction was calculated to be 210 kJ/mol in the temperature range from 1273 to 1573 K. The overall reduction rate of FeO by carbon is believed to be mixed-controlled by the Boudouard reaction and by the FeO reduction by CO gas in the temperature range investigated. The critical carbon concentration for the FeO reduction was estimated under the assumption that the activities of FeO and Fe are unity.