The effect of origin and physico-chemical properties on the kinetics of reduction of mixed NiO-Fe2O3 oxides with hydrogen

Abstract

We investigated the effect of origin and some physico-chemical parameters on the kinetics of reduction with hydrogen of two series of mixed NiO-Fe2O3 oxides differing by their composition, the character of their precursors (mixed crystalline nitrates and coprecipitated hydroxides) and their decomposition temperature.This effect manifested itself by different magnitudes of specific surfaces of the mixed oxides and coherent regions of present phases as well as by different oxidizing abilities of the surface and differences in morphology and phase composition of corresponding samples in both series investigated. Nonlinear or nonmonotonous composition dependences of physico-chemical parameters investigated point to a mutual influence of individual components, which is also a function of the system origin and which modifies its reactivity during its reduction with hydrogen. The kinetics of the reduction was studied thermogravimetrically at 320-410 °C. The reduction of oxides of the hydroxide origin is catalytically accelerated by primarily reduced nickel, whereas in corresponding samples of the nitrate series, the total NiO is bound to the spinel phase and the reduction is delayed. Experimental IR spectra, the effect of preliminary annealing and DTA of the mixed oxides point to an inhibitory effect of water, which is constitutionally bound in trace admixtures of the goethite phase, on the kinetics of reduction of samples in the hydroxide series.