Abstract
Hydrogen is a candidate to replace carbon in metal production, as it can reduce some metal ores (e.g., iron ore). However, for other oxides, such as those of manganese and chromium, the situation is much more challenging. As the exotic species found in hydrogen plasma are much more reactive than molecular hydrogen, the use of hydrogen plasma can improve hydrogen reduction for all these oxides. Here, using a plasma arc melter, samples of Fe2O3, Cr2O3 and MnO have been exposed to hydrogen plasma. Reactions between oxides and hydrogen have been observed in all cases, producing metallic iron, chromium, and manganese, hinting that plasma technology can play a part in sustainable metal production, allowing for carbon free production of chromium and manganese. The paper also discusses possible reaction mechanisms.
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Dalaker, H., Hovig, E.W. (2023). Hydrogen Plasma-Based Reduction of Metal Oxides. In: Fleuriault, C., et al. Advances in Pyrometallurgy. TMS 2023. The Minerals, Metals & Materials Series. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22634-2_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-22634-2_8
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