Intrinsic Kinetics of Reduction of Hematite Concentrates by H2 at Moderate Temperatures
摘要
In this work, the intrinsic kinetics of reduction of hematite concentrates was determined in the temperature range from 700 °C to 900 °C, and an integrated rate law was formulated for the same. Hematite concentrates were isothermally reduced in hydrogen atmosphere using a vertical tubular furnace equipped with a micro-balance. The influence of key process variables such as hydrogen (H2) flow rate, particle size of concentrates, reduction temperature, and partial pressure of hydrogen gas on the reduction rate was ascertained. Characterization of different phases, morphological changes, and chemical compositions were analysed using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and X-ray fluorescence (XRF), respectively. The reduction rate became independent of the gas flow rate once a critical flow rate was achieved, but it was found that an increase in the reduction temperature monotonically increased the rate of reaction in the range studied. Furthermore, the intrinsic kinetics of hematite reduction by H2 were best described by a nucleation and growth mechanism with an average Avrami parameter