Abstract
Variations in energy efficiency and climate gas emissions in production of manganese ferroalloys are largely related to the solid-state reduction of the manganese ores used as raw material in the production. The gas-solid reduction is known to be dependent on the ore characteristics, making information on the factors governing the kinetics crucial. A reaction rate analysis of thermogravimetric data obtained for the reduction of Comilog and Nchwaning manganese ores in CO-CO2 atmosphere was performed. Experimental variables were CO partial pressure, ore particle size, temperature regimes (isothermal/non-isothermal), as well as heating rate for non-isothermal experiments. The effects of particle size, CO-concentration, and temperature on the reaction rates were quantified. It was found that the reduction rate of both ores was proportional to the inverse average particle size. Different sensitivities towards the CO-concentration in the gas feed was determined, where the rate of Comilog-ore was proportional to p0.7CO, and Nchwaning to p1.5CO. The activation energy of Comilog ore was estimated to be 17 kJ/mol, whereas 63 kJ/mol was found for Nchwaning ore.