Thermal decomposition of ammonium polymolybdate in a fluidized bed reactor

Studies on thermal decomposition of ammonium polymolybdate were carried out in a fluidized bed reactor using air as a fluidizing medium. The ammonia vapour released during the decomposition process was passed directly into hydrochloric acid solution. The change in pH of the solution was monitored with respect to time and temperature and the degree alpha of decomposition was calculated at intermediate stages of the process. The kinetics of the overall decomposition process were found to fit well into a 'power law' model. The overall activation energy E(a) and the rate constant k were determined to be 16.3 kJ mol(-1) and 1.24 x 10(-3) s(-1) respectively. The value of the activation energy suggests the process to be surface controlled. The preparation of MoO3 from ammonium polymolybdate in a fluidized bed reactor was found to be accomplished at a lower temperature and in a lesser time than that needed in a static bed reactor.