The production of Zn from ZnO in a high-temperature solar decomposition quench process—I. The scientific framework for the process

✍ Scribed by R. Palumbo; J. Léde; O. Boutin; E. Elorza Ricart; A. Steinfeld; S. Möller; A. Weidenkaff; E.A. Fletcher; J. Bielicki

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1998
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 575 KB
• Volume: 53
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0009-2509
• DOI: 10.1016/s0009-2509(98)00063-3

✦ Synopsis

We present a theoretical and experimental study of a solar decomposition process for producing Zn and O from ZnO(s). The decomposition step occurs at temperatures near 2000 K, and the gaseous products are quenched. A numerical model that uses the latest kinetic data for the decomposition and reoxidation reactions suggests that Zn conversions as high as 80% can be obtained with solar flux densities of 2 MW m. The decomposition and quench were effected in a solar furnace and in a solar furnace simulator. Zn yields were as high as 90% depending in part on the dilution ratio and quenching surface's temperature.