Reducing Rate of Iron Oxide in Molten Slag by Carbon in Molten Iron

Abstract

In the research of a continuous ironmaking process from reduced iron, or pre-reduced iron ore, the reduction rate of iron oxide in molten slag by carbon in molten iron was investigated to know the optimum condition. Mixture consisted of, mainly, 40g master slag and 17.1g iron oxide, was added onto the molten iron in a graphite crucible, the molten copper in a graphite crucible, or the molten iron in an almina crucible to measure the amount of CO gas evolved in the range of 1320-1620°C. The following results were obtained:
(1) The reduction rate of iron oxide in molten slag by carbon in molten iron, or graphite was proportional to the second power of the iron oxide content in the molten slag except for the starting and the ending periods of the experiment.
(2) The rate contant and the apparent activation energy of the reduction of iron oxide in molten slag by carbon in molten iron were obtained from the data of the experiment with a graphite crucible-molten iron and a graphite crucible-molten copper.
(3) The maximum rate constant of the reduction of iron oxide in molten slag by carbon in molten iron, or graphite was observed around CaO/SiO₂=1.5 of molten slag.