Eletroreduction of Fe₂O₃ to Fe in Strongly Alkaline Solution

Abstract:

Electroreduction of Fe₂O₃ to Fe in sodium hydroxide solutions has been investigated. It is found that pure iron powder with uniform crystal particles can be obtained by electrolysis of Fe₂O₃ in alkaline solution. The porosity of the iron oxide (Fe₂O₃) pellet and the concentration of NaOH solution have significant influences on the electrolysis process. The deoxidation rate increases with increasing the concentration of NaOH solution, the grain size of iron products decreases with increasing the concentration of NaOH. The optimum NaOH concentration and pressure load used to fabricate Fe₂O₃ pellet are 60 wt% and 6 MPa, respectively. X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis indicates that Fe₃O₄ was produced as the intermediate product during the electroreduction process.

• Periodical: Applied Mechanics and Materials (Volume 595)
• Pages: 8-13
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMM.595.8
• Online since: July 2014
• Authors: Shan Lin Gu*, Xing Li Zou, Xiong Gang Lu
• Keywords: Alkaline Solution, Electroreduction, Ferroferric Oxide, Iron Oxide

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