Process for reducing metallic oxide aperfeicoado and sulfide ore to a state of lower oxidacao

摘要

A process is disclosed for prereducing metallic oxide and sulfide ores to a lower state of oxidation without passing through a liquid phase, at an accelerated rate. The ore particles are preheated to 1,800 DEG or above. An unreformed hydrocarbon fuel such as natural gas (CH4) substantially free of any oxidizing agents is passed into a bed of such preheated ore particles to pyrolytically decompose and reform portions of the fuel into strong reducing agents while in intimate contact with the oxidic metal to be reduced. Such forming of reducing agents cause at least some ore to very quickly reduce to a lower state of oxidation with an attendant solid state reorientation of metal and/or sulfur and oxygen atoms. The atomic reorientation provides increased porosity, and greater surface area is exposed to the strong reducing agents for additional and continued reduction. Portions of as yet unreformed fuel in the bed are rapidly reformed by continued pyrolysis and by reacting with oxygen and/or sulfur from the ore, to provide additional quantities of strong reducing agents.