Kinetic study on the carbothermic reduction of zinc oxide

This study investigated the carbothermic reduction of zinc oxide with carbon powder under a nitrogen atmosphere (at 1 atm). The experimental results indicated that the reduction rate could be increased by increasing the molar ratio of C/ZnO, height of solid sample, density of solid sample or reaction temperature. The rate was also found to be increased by reducing the grain size of zinc oxide and carbon or the nitrogen gas flow rate. The empirical expressions of conversion rates of zinc oxide and carbon as well as the production rate of zinc were determined from the regression of the experimental data.