Reduction of Nickel Oxide with Ethanol

Abstract

This work aims to investigate the reduction behavior of NiO powder by ethanol vapor at 600-1100 K for the reaction times up to 60 min. The products were characterized by mass measurement, x-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy techniques. The reaction of NiO with ethanol essentially consisted of oxide reduction followed by C deposition. At 600 K, significant oxide reduction was attained. Full oxide reduction was observed at 650-1100 K within 10-15 min. At this temperature range, the reduction reaction was controlled by external mass transfer of gaseous species. At the lower temperature range 600-650 K, the reduction rate was sensitive to the temperature change and influenced by the total gas flow rate to a lesser degree. The temperature dependence of C uptake was explained by Boudouard reaction. The results of this study demonstrate that NiO can be completely reduced to Ni by ethanol as predicted by the thermodynamic analysis.