Climate neutral molybdenum process

Important results from the project

** Denna text är maskinöversatt ** The aim of this project is to further develop the process for CO2-neutral production of Mo from MoO3 concentrate, by testing, evaluating and improving the hydrogen gas reduction in a fluid bed. The aim is to manufacture a molybdenum material with low and reproducible oxygen content using hydrogen gas reduction.

Expected long term effects

** Denna text är maskinöversatt ** Tests with hydrogen reduction in a lab-scale model of molybdenum oxide, MoO3, show that it is possible to manufacture Mo.materials with an oxygen content of 5%, which is higher than the desired customer requirement, therefore more trials are required to optimize the process. Important tools for developing the process is temperature control in the reduction zone, pressure measurements over the bed and chemical analysis of outgoing gas. The determined production capacity is about 3-4 times higher for reduction of MoO3, compared to reduction of MoO2.

Approach and implementation

** Denna text är maskinöversatt ** Reduction tests in a fluid bed were carried out with 200g of MoO3 sample material for 10 and 50 vol-% H2 in nitrogen gas at 590C. Reduction tests of MoO2 were carried out with approx. 120g of sample and the same gas mixtures at 1000C. Temperature and the pressure drop across the bed was logged and chemical composition of the outgoing gas was measured with a mass spectrometer. The reduced materials were characterized by particle size oxygen content, chemical analysis and microstructures. The productivity was calculated by mass balances and reduction times.