Pyrometallurgical processes may be used to achieve the process aims at separation, compound
formation, metal production and metal purification.
Metal Production
Feed material for most metal production operations are:
Metal oxides, sulphides or halides.
To reduce most metal oxides, sulphide, halides to their metals:
Req. very low oxygen pressure (not attainable even with the best of the present vacuum)
How can metal production be achieved?
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What is a reducing agent?
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i.)
Important consideration: Oxygen partial pressure created by the presence of the reducing agent be below
that in equilibrium with the metal oxide to be reduced.
Carbon:
Basis: _________________________________________________________________________
Hydrogen:
Basis: _________________________________________________________________________
ii.)
iii.)
Metallothermic reaction: the most common method used for the redactive
metals.
Ti(s) + 2MgCl2(l)