Difference between revisions of "Ilmenite Reduction"

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<BR>Where n represents the number of TiO<sub>2</sub> molecules
 
<BR>Where n represents the number of TiO<sub>2</sub> molecules
  
===Reduction with CO===
+
That's way the besestt answer so far!
This reaction is based on a fluidized bed scheme which is similar to large scale proposals for Hydrogen Reduction.  The product of CO reduction of Ilmenite is [[Carbon Dioxide|Carbon Dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>)]], which is [[Lunar Carbon Production#Direct CO2 Electrolysis|reduced]] to [[Carbon Monoxide|CO]] and [[oxygen]]. The [[Carbon Monoxide|CO]] is recirculated, and the oxygen stored.<ref>http://www.uapress.arizona.edu/onlinebks/ResourcesNearEarthSpace/resources04.pdf page 9</ref>.  The presence of solar wind implanted carbon in the regolith will allow the recovery of additional carbon if recycling efficiency is sufficiently great, though a method for dealing with evolved methane (CH<sub>4</sub>, from hydrogen present in the regolith) would be required. The CO reduction of ilmenite is slower than the H<sub>2</sub> process, but by less than an order of magnitude for any given temperature.
 
 
 
The reaction sequence is:
 
<BR/><BR/>
 
''Reduction'':<BR/>
 
FeTiO<sub>3</sub> + CO ---->Fe + TiO<sub>2</sub> + CO<sub>2</sub>
 
<BR/>
 
''Endothermic cracking'':<BR/>
 
2CO<sub>2</sub> ----> 2CO + O<sub>2</sub>
 
<BR/>
 
''Net Reaction'': <BR/>
 
2FeTiO<sub>3</sub> + 2CO ---->2Fe + 2TiO<sub>2</sub> + 2CO + O<sub>2</sub>
 
<BR/>
 
  
 
==Methane Reduction==
 
==Methane Reduction==

Revision as of 20:33, 29 October 2011

Introduction

Reducing ilmenite (FeTiO3) to produce oxygen, iron, and titanium in a lunar context has produced a number of proposals, many of them specifically aimed at oxygen production. Ilmenite is attractive for this purpose as the iron oxides it contains require less energy to reduce than any other oxide on the lunar surface. For this reason, proposals which have oxygen production as the primary goal usually focus on reduction of the iron content of ilmenite.

Why does this have to be the ONLY reliable soucre? Oh well, gj!

Carbothermal Reduction

Oxygen can be retrieved from Ilmenite (FeTiO3) and Rutile (TiO2) by means of carbothermal reduction. In experiments, powdered carbon and powdered ilmenite/rutile were evenly mixed and then heated to 1500 degrees Celsius. The end products of this reaction are Oxygen and a high strength Ceramic-metal composite (Cermet) of Iron (Fe) and Titanium Carbide (TiC) which has high chemical stability. The amount of reinforcing TiC ceramic in the matrix can be controlled via the amount of rutile and carbon used[1]. While this method provides a means of retrieving all of the oxygen from ilmenite/rutile and a potential for producing reinforced, high performance and wear components and cutting tools from lunar regolith, it is at the cost of highly valuable carbon needed for biological processes.

Stoichiometry for this reaction:

Ilmenite:
FeTiO3 + 4C ---->Fe + TiC + 3CO

Ilmenite and Rutile:
FeTiO3 + nTiO2 + (4+3n)C ---->Fe + (1+n)TiC + (3+2n)CO
Where n represents the number of TiO2 molecules

That's way the besestt answer so far!

Methane Reduction

Please note: Methane Reduction

This section is a placeholder for work currently in progress.
-- Jarogers2001 22:59, 31 May 2008 (UTC)

Li or Na Reduction

Plasma Reduction

Electrolytic Reduction

see FFC Cambridge Process


References

Related Pages

External Links