Effect of sodium carbonate addition on carbothermic reduction of ilmenite concentrate

The enhanced reduction mechanism and kinetics of different Na2CO3 additions in the carbothermic reduction of ilmenite concentrate were investigated. The reduction process was carried out at different heating rates in a thermogravimetry facility, and the kinetics was studied using the Starink method. The results indicate that Na2CO3 addition enhanced the reduction effect as well as reduced the initial temperature of the reaction and the activation energy by increasing reactant activity in reactant form; however, it deteriorated the late-stage kinetic conditions by generating a molten phase, thereby reducing the reaction rate in the late stages of reduction. The average apparent activation energies of ilmenite concentrate with 0%, 3%, and 6% Na2CO3 are 447, 289, and 430 kJ/mol, respectively. The results from kinetics parameters confirm that Na(2)CO(3 & nbsp;)addition accelerated the reduction kinetics; however, excessive addition worsened the reduction kinetics.