Abstract

The mechanism of copper ferrite reduction in the carbon monoxide system, is investigated in this work. Tests were carried out in a horizontal reactor at 850°C under the following parameters were studied: coarse particles (5 to 10 mm), ratio CO/(CO+CO2) of 0.50 and time of reaction of 1, 5, 15, 30 and 60 min. Based on analysis by micrographies and electron microprobe for the partially reacted particles it allows to propose global mechanism of reduction in which metallic copper is formed by means of two simultaneous mechanisms. One pathway by sequential transformation of tenorite and cuprite CuO*Fe2O3?CuO?Cu2O?Cu and the another pathway by intermediates by poly-spinels CuO*Fe2O3?Cu0.5Fe2.5 O4?CuxFe3-x?O4Cu. Likewise, the iron is reduced across two simultaneous mechanisms, route CuO*Fe2O3?Cu0.5Fe2.5 O4? Fe2O3?Fe3O4?FeO or following the route CuO*Fe2O3?Cu0.5Fe2.5 O4?CuxFe3-xO4? Fe3O4?FeO.