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Blast Furnace

Iron is primarily found in nature as haematite in Zimbabwe, with significant deposits at Redcliff and Buchwa, where mining is currently halted. The production process involves using coke to generate carbon monoxide, which reduces iron (III) oxide to iron, while limestone is used to create slag that separates impurities. Cast iron, the resulting product, contains impurities and is brittle, but alloys of iron can enhance its properties, making it harder and more resistant to corrosion.

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18 views4 pages

Blast Furnace

Iron is primarily found in nature as haematite in Zimbabwe, with significant deposits at Redcliff and Buchwa, where mining is currently halted. The production process involves using coke to generate carbon monoxide, which reduces iron (III) oxide to iron, while limestone is used to create slag that separates impurities. Cast iron, the resulting product, contains impurities and is brittle, but alloys of iron can enhance its properties, making it harder and more resistant to corrosion.

Uploaded by

Lovemore kabby
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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IRON

-The metal is never in a free state in nature. It naturally occurs in Zimbabwe mainly as

haematite, hydrated iron (III) oxide. Large deposits are at Redcliff and at Buchwa in

Mberengwa. Presently mining operations at Buchwa are at a standstill.

Raw Materials Used


-Near the bottom of the furnace, the carbon in coke burns in hot air, forming carbon

dioxide and producing temperature up to 1700C. Further up the furnace, the carbon

dioxide is reduced to carbon monoxide.

C (s) + O2(g) → CO2(g) + heat

CO2(g) + C(s) → 2CO(g)

Carbon + oxygen → carbon dioxide.

-As carbon dioxide rises up the furnace it reacts with coke, forming carbon monoxide, the

major reducing agent.

Carbon dioxide + carbon (coke) → carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide reduces iron (III) oxide to iron

Carbon monoxide + iron (III) oxide → iron + carbon dioxide

- Limestone (calcium carbonate) decomposes into calcium oxide (lime) and carbon dioxide at

the high temperatures of the blast furnace.

Calcium carbonate heat calcium oxide + carbon dioxide

-Calcium oxide reacts with sand impurities to form a slag. Slag floats on top of molten iron.

- They are tapped from different holes.

-Calcium oxide reacts with sand impurities to form a slag. Slag floats on top of molten iron
Slag is less dense compared to molten iron so it is collected from a tap hole above the molten iron.

 The iron produced is called cast iron

Cast iron

- Contains impurities such as phosphorus and Sulphur.

-Is brittle, it breaks easily.

- Rusts easily when exposed to air and water.

- Cast iron is put through the basic oxygen process, which is also called the oxygen lance process.

ALLOYS OF IRON

- An alloy is a mixture of metals or metals and non-metals to improve its properties.

- They are harder, more resistant to corrosion and have a more attractive appearance than

the metals they are formed from.

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