Abstract:The enhanced reduction mechanism and kinetics of different Na₂CO₃ additions in the carbothermic reduction of ilmenite concentrate were investigated. The reduction process was carried out at different heating rates in a thermogravimetry facility, and the kinetics was studied using the Starink method.The results indicate that Na₂CO₃ addition enhanced the reduction effect as well as reduced the initial temperature of the reaction and the activation energy by increasing reactant activity in reactant form; however, it deteriorated the late-stage kinetic conditions by generating a molten phase, thereby reducing the reaction rate in the late stages of reduction. The average apparent activation energies of ilmenite concentrate with 0%, 3%, and 6% Na₂CO₃ are 447, 289, and 430 kJ/mol, respectively. The results from kinetics parameters confirm that Na₂CO₃ addition accelerated the reduction kinetics; however, excessive addition worsened the reduction kinetics.

Key words: ilmenite concentrate; non-isothermal kinetics; reduction mechanism; apparent activation energy