In situ spectroscopic analysis of the carbothermal reduction process of iron oxides during microwave irradiation

The effects of microwave plasma induction and reduction on the promotion of the carbothermal reduction of iron oxides (α-Fe₂O₃, γ-Fe₂O₃, and Fe₃O₄) are investigated using in situ emission spectroscopy measurements during 2.45 GHz microwave processing, and the plasma discharge (such as CN and N₂) is measured during microwave E-field irradiation. It is shown that CN gas or excited CN molecules contribute to the iron oxide reduction reactions, as well as to the thermal reduction. On the other hand, no plasma is generated during microwave H-field irradiation, resulting in thermal reduction. Magnetite strongly interacts with the microwave H-field, and the reduction reaction is clearly promoted by microwave H-field irradiation, as well as thermal reduction reaction.