Equipment for microwave assisted carbothermic reduction of metallic oxides

Abstract

Carbothermic reduction is a process, which promotes the reduction of metallic ores by heating, at least to 1000 oC, pellets of a mixture of the ore with a reducer as coke or charcoal. A typical example is the reduction of iron ore to pig iron. Most reported microwave experiments utilize domestic ovens; a procedure, which does not allow an easy control of all involved variables and impedes the repeatability of results. By using a waveguide applicator and standard microwave techniques the reliability of experiments is improved. Equipment is described and a discussion of energy balance and tax reaction under magnetic and electric fields is included.