Reactions of metal oxides with carbon

The reaction of metal oxides with carbon is investigated. Baikov’s hypothesis regarding the role of atomic oxygen in the reduction of metals and the oxidation of carbon is confirmed theoretically and experimentally. The initial stages in the process include conjugate chemical reactions: dissociation of the oxide with the liberation of atomic and molecular oxygen; and the oxidation of carbon. The reaction of thermodynamically stable metal oxides with carbon is slowed by the accumulation of carbon monoxide in the system and the blocking of the reducing agent’s surface by metal carbides and oxycarbides. The production of silicon ferroalloys from briquetted batch is shown to be promising.