The Characteristics and Reduction of Wustite

Abstract

The wustite is the most difficult to be reduced in the three iron oxides of hematite, magnetite, and wustite. To introduce the structure, property, and characteristic of the wustite completely is necessary. CO and C are the common reducing agents. However, C can reduce the wustite to iron more easily than CO in high temperature. Especially, reducing carbon dioxide emissions is so important that hydrogen is the alternative to carbon. The thermodynamics and kinetics of the three reductants to reduce the wustite will be proposed in detail. When the temperature is lower than 810°C (1083 K), the reduction ability of CO is stronger than that of H2. If it is higher than 810°C (1083 K), the opposite is true. In the meantime, the difference among the three reductants to reduce the wustite can be understood clearly. There are some other aspects that will be introduced. When the temperature is 1173 K, according to calculation, considering the theoretical amount and the chemical balance of the reduction reaction, the amount of hydrogen required to be put into the reactor is 952 Nm3/t Fe. Wustite will be reduced by pure hydrogen in some reactors in the foreseeable future.