TGA kinetic study on the hydrogen reduction of an iron nickel oxide

Reduction of a mixed iron nickel oxide by hydrogen to produce ferronickel alloy was investigated by thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA). The iron nickel oxide, which contains 50wt% Fe and 10wt% Ni mainly in the form of hematite (Fe2O3) and nickel ferrite (NiFe2O4), is a residue produced from the water leaching of a selectively sulfation roasted nickel calcine. Continuous heating tests with a fixed heating rate as well as isothermal tests were performed. Results indicate that the reduction of the mixed oxide began above 350°C. The reduction reactions occurred in a non-topochemical mode at low temperatures between 350°C and 600°C with its rate controlled by the solid–gas chemical reactions. The reduction rate increased with the increase in temperature from 350°C up to 1100°C. Between 600°C and 1200°C, the rate controlling step was the diffusion of reducing gas through the pores of the sample bed with an apparent activation energy of 34.1kJ/mol. Due to the melting of the silicate material at 1200°C which substantially reduced the sample porosity, the reduction rate decreased. Above 1200°C, the reduction rate increased again due to the increased diffusion of the reducing gas through the molten sample at higher temperatures.