Reduction of nickel oxide by carbon: III. Kinetic studies of the interaction between nickel oxide and natural graphite

The rate of interaction of equi-molar micron-sized particles of NiO with plate-like particles of natural graphite has been studied between 900 and 1000 degrees C in both a closed system and in vacuo. Both CO and CO2 are primary products of the reaction. In both a closed system and in vacuo, reaction proceeds essentially to complete reduction of NiO. Reduction in vacuo is more rapid than in a closed system. Reduction of NiO in vacuo is described by first order plots, with the increase in rate constant values with temperature having an activation energy of 75 kcal mol(-1). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.