Reduction of ferric oxide pellets with methane.

Reduction of porous and dense pellets of ferric oxide were carried out with methane in the temperature range of 1073 to 1298K. The reduction pattern was, broadly speaking, topochemical. Volume of pellets increased upon reduction except at 1298K. Extent of carbon deposition in pellets increased linearly with increasing temperature. Rate of reduction with CH4 was approximately 41/2 times slower as compared to that with H2 at 1223K. The overall reaction may be considered to consist of decomposition of CH4 into C and H2, and reduction of pellet by the resulting H2. The decomposition reaction was found to control the overall rate primarily. The reduction of pellet by H2 seems to be controlled by counter diffusion of H2 and H2O in the gas boundary layer.