REDUCTION OF IRON ORES BY REFORMED NATURAL GAS

Abstract

The authors investigaed on the reduction process of several sorts of iron Ores by the reformed natural gas. the results obtain were as follows:
In general, the reducing action of natural gas, was weak, but it was found that when it was decomposed, the reduction became strong. This strong reducing action would be given by hydrogen formed by the decomposition of hydrocarbon in the gas. The action of carbon monoxide in natural gas appeared similarly in the case of pure CO. At lower temperature, reduction of bog iron ore and hematite was proceeded more rapidly than that of magnetite, while at higher temperature, the magnetite was most rapidly reduced than others.
The degree of reduction at the constant temperature (=700°C) was greater, when the flow rate of gas was more increased.Further investigation for reduction of iron ores by the reformed natural gas would be required not only for chemical compgsition but also for mineral construction of the ore.