Reaction mechanism and kinetic study on the methanol dominated gas-based reduction process

[Display omitted] •A new kinetic model describing the methanol reduction of metal oxides has been proposed.•The effects of temperature on the particle’s morphologies and size are illustrated.•The reduction mechanisms and reaction pathway were investigated based on thermodynamic and thermogravimetric analysis. Alcohols, represented by methanol, have received attention as a new type of reducing agent in various fields, including carbide synthesis, surface carburization etc. In order to clarify the reduction routes, reaction mechanisms and influencing factors on the morphology of the products during the methanol dominated reduction process, this work examined the preparation of molybdenum hemicarbide by reducing and carbonizing MoO3 with methanol. We used a combination of thermodynamic calculations, thermogravimetric analysis and XRD to clarify the reduction path of MoO3 at different temperatures, and characterized the morphology evolution of the product using SEM. Furthermore, a novel kinetic mathematical model was proposed to account for the intricate reaction involving methanol and multivalent oxide, which incorporated numerous parameters with practical physical significance, enhancing its predictive precision. In summary, our findings provide valuable insights into thermodynamics, kinetics, and experimental aspects of reactions involving methanol, offering guidance for controlled carbide particle synthesis.