Solar Carbo-Thermal and Methano-Thermal Reduction of MgO and ZnO for Metallic Powder and Syngas Production by Green Extractive Metallurgy

The solar carbo-thermal and methano-thermal reduction of both MgO ZnO were performed in a flexible reactor operated at low pressure through batch continuous operations. pyro-metallurgical process is an attractive sustainable pathway to convert store concentrated energy into high-value metal commodities fuels. Substituting fossil fuel combustion with when providing high-temperature heat relevant option for green extractive metallurgy. In this study, thermodynamic equilibrium analysis was first compare the thermochemical solid carbon or gaseous methane, determine product distribution as function operating conditions. volatile oxides then experimentally assessed compared using directly irradiated cavity-type under different conditions, varying type carbon-based reducing agent (either methane), temperature (in range 765–1167 °C 991–1550 MgO), total (including reduced 0.10–0.15 bar atmospheric ~0.90 pressures), processing mode (batch operations). reactions yielded species (Mg Zn) which recovered outlet fine reactive powders. Reducing favored conversion increased yields Mg Zn. However, decrease also promoted CO2 production because shortened gas residence time, especially case reduction, whereas formation negligible whatever Continuous reactant co-feeding (corresponding mixture oxide methane) during operation, revealing increase reaction extent while increasing feeding rate. reducer influenced extent, since higher reached highly available specific surface area reactions. high-purity magnesium zinc content solar-produced metallic powders, thus confirming reliability, flexibility, robustness demonstrating promising metallurgical clean light value-added chemicals.