Phase Transformations in the Reduction of Manganese Ores by Methane

Manganese is a critical element in steelmaking – the third most common element after iron and carbon – and has no satisfactory replacement. The conventional process for producing metallic manganese is energy- and carbon-intensive, operating at 1400-1600°C and consuming on the order of 1 tonne of carbon reductant for every 2 tonnes of manganese produced. An alternative strategy based on the reduction of manganese ores by gaseous methane, rather than solid carbon, may allow operation at lower temperatures (1000-1200°C) while also mitigating CO2 emissions. Prior works have demonstrated the viability of this approach at the lab scale and research is ongoing at the University of Toronto to demonstrate the scalability of this technology. Work-to-date has demonstrated that phase transformations during the reduction process, in particular the melting of the Fe-Mn-C product phase, have a significant effect on the rate of reduction. Improved understanding of these transformations will enable optimization and scaling of this process.

Faculty Supervisor:

Mansoor Barati

Student:

Partner:

Norwegian University of Science and Technology

Discipline:

Engineering

Sector:

Education

University:

University of Toronto

Program: