Kinetics of reduction of manganese ore under different flow rates of inert gas

Understanding the kinetics of carbothermic reduction of manganese ore is crucial for successful operation of the process of production of manganese ferro alloys such as ferro-manganese and silica-manganese in the submerged-arc furnace (SAF). The kinetics of reduction will be influenced by the flow of gases over the site of reduction. This is an important parameter in the reduction of ores. Preliminary studies have been carried out to understand the kinetics of reduction of a manganese ore at two different flow rates of argon. The studies showed that the reduction is controlled by chemical reaction at 1050°C and 1100°C at a flow rate of 1 l pm (litre per minute) of argon. At higher flow rate, no control mechanism could satisfactorily describe the reduction process.