Engineering Application 2: The Blast Furnace – Production of High-Grade Iron Iron (Fe) is a transitional metal usually present in a solid state with a melting point of 1808.2 K (1535.1 oC) and a boiling point of 3023 K (2750 oC). In its pure form, Fe is reactive and vulnerable to rust. It is mostly used in the manufacturing of steel for chemical processing plants and construction industry. Natural ores such as hematite (Fe2O3) and magnetite (Fe3O4) are a good source of Fe. These ores contain more than 60% of Fe which can be directly used in the production of iron and steel. The image below shows the production of 90-95% Fe in a blast furnace Listed below are some of the processes involved in the production of high-grade iron using a blast furnace (Pig Iron): 1. Hot air blown into the bottom of the furnace which burns the coke (carbon) to form carbon dioxide. The exothermic reaction between air and coke is the main source of heat in the furnace. 2. At the bottom of the furnace, carbon dioxide reacts with unburnt coke to produce carbon monoxide. 3. Carbon monoxide is the main reducing agent in the furnace. It reacts with hematite to produce iron (II, III) oxide and carbon dioxide, and it reacts with magnetite to produce ferrous oxide and carbon dioxide. 4. Lastly, ferrous oxide reacts with carbon monoxide to produce iron and carbon dioxide. The production of high-grade iron from hematite and magnetite using a blast furnace involves several reactions as described above. Write the balance step for each reaction. a. Main source of heat: reaction between air and coke. b. Reaction at the bottom of the furnace: carbon dioxide reacts with unburnt coke to produce carbon monoxide c. Reaction of carbon monoxide with hematite to produce iron (II, III) oxide and carbon dioxide. d. Reaction of carbon of monoxide with magnetite to produce ferrous oxide and carbon dioxide e. Reaction of carbon of monoxide with ferrous oxide to produce iron and carbon dioxide. f. Additional reaction: In hotter regions, coke may act as a reducing agent. Write the balanced reaction between coke and hematite to produce iron and carbon monoxide.
Engineering Application 2: The Blast Furnace – Production of High-Grade Iron
Iron (Fe) is a transitional metal usually present in a solid state with a melting point of 1808.2 K (1535.1 oC) and a boiling point of 3023 K (2750 oC). In its pure form, Fe is reactive and vulnerable to rust. It is mostly used in the manufacturing of steel for chemical processing plants and construction industry. Natural ores such as hematite (Fe2O3) and magnetite (Fe3O4) are a good source of Fe. These ores contain more than 60% of Fe which can be directly used in the production of iron and steel. The image below shows the production of 90-95% Fe in a blast furnace
Listed below are some of the processes involved in the production of high-grade iron using a blast furnace (Pig Iron):
1. Hot air blown into the bottom of the furnace which burns the coke (carbon) to form carbon dioxide. The exothermic reaction between air and coke is the main source of heat in the furnace.
2. At the bottom of the furnace, carbon dioxide reacts with unburnt coke to
produce carbon monoxide.
3. Carbon monoxide is the main reducing agent in the furnace. It reacts with hematite to produce iron (II, III) oxide and carbon dioxide, and it reacts with magnetite to produce ferrous oxide and carbon dioxide.
4. Lastly, ferrous oxide reacts with carbon monoxide to produce iron and carbon dioxide.
The production of high-grade iron from hematite and magnetite using a blast furnace involves several reactions as described above. Write the balance step for each reaction.
a. Main source of heat: reaction between air and coke.
b. Reaction at the bottom of the furnace: carbon dioxide reacts with unburnt coke to produce carbon monoxide
c. Reaction of carbon monoxide with hematite to produce iron (II, III) oxide and carbon dioxide.
d. Reaction of carbon of monoxide with magnetite to produce ferrous oxide and carbon dioxide
e. Reaction of carbon of monoxide with ferrous oxide to produce iron and carbon dioxide.
f. Additional reaction: In hotter regions, coke may act as a reducing agent. Write the balanced reaction between coke and hematite to produce iron and carbon monoxide.
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