LOW TEMPERATURE DIRECT REDUCTION OF METAL OXIDES VIA THE IN SITU PRODUCTION OF REDUCING GAS

A continuous process for low temperature reduction of metal oxides from carbonaceous material, using in situ produced reducing gas. In particular, a method of reducing metal oxide to metal in a continuous process comprising:(a) continuously introducing composite bodies comprising low rank carbonaceous material and metal oxide containing material that are in intimate contact and in a dry mix ratio of from about 1:2 to about 1:10 to an upper region of an upright retort;(b) conveying said bodies from said upper region to a heated lower region of said retort wherein said composite bodies are exposed to increasing temperature of up to about 950° C. and wherein said composite bodies are exposed to reducing gas generated in situ for a period of from about 15 minutes to about 3 hours to thereby produce a reduced metal containing product; and(c) continuously removing the reduced metal containing product from a lower