Reduction Rate of Molten Iron Oxide by the Solid Carbon or the Carbon in Molten Iron

Abstract

The reduction rates of molten iron oxide by the solid carbon or the carbon in molten iron were measured, in order to collect basic data on the smelting reduction process which consists of blowing powder iron ore and powder coal into molten iron bath with oxygen gas for a partial combustion. Molten iron oxide in a steel or an alumina crucible was reduced by a rotating carbon rod. The carbon in molten iron in an alumina crucible was reacted with molten iron oxide which was melted in a steel container beforehand. The reduction rates were calculated from the amount of CO gas evolved. The following results were obtained :
(1) The reduction rates of molten iron oxide by the solid carbon were 0.21-0.82×10^-4mol-FeO/cm²·s at 1 420-1 620°C, and the activation energy of the reaction were 75 and 31 kcal/mol for a steel and alumina crucibles, respectively.
(2) The reduction rates of molten iron oxide by the carbon in molten iron were 1.1-3.3×10^-4mol-FeO/cm²·s at 1 420-1 620°C, and the activation energy of the reaction was 44 kcal/mol.
(3) It was concluded that the reaction rate between the solid iron oxide and the carbon in molten iron was the highest among reactions between the solid or the molten iron oxide and the solid carbon, the carbon in molten iron, CO, or H₂ gas.