An Assessment of the Carbothermal Reduction of Malaysian Ilmenite by Statistical Design

Abstract

Statistical design analysis (factorial design) was utilized to verify the significance and the interaction between the studied factors include temperature, reduction time and catalyst amount. Carbothermal reduction of iron ore sample was carried out at temperature between 1000°C to 1200°C. The effects of operating parameters studied were extent of reduction (X), carbon consumed (Cconsumed ) and nitridation (XN). Temperature was the most influential parameter that showed strong interaction with the operating parameters, meanwhile, reduction time and catalyst have showed the contrary results and had a very low percentage of contribution. The results of the experimental design showed that the extent of reduction reached up to 93% at 1200°C using 10 wt. % catalysts after 180 minutes reduction. The use of 0-10 wt % catalyst at 1200°C for 180 min reduction significantly affect the X but did not for Cconsumed and XN.Keywords: Carbothermal Reduction, Factorial Design, Malaysian Ilmenite, Nitridation.