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The oxidation of carbon by lead oxide-silica melts Jena, Prafulla Kumar

Abstract

An investigation of the oxidation of carbon by lead oxide-silica melts was undertaken. The carbon specimens utilised in this investigation were spectroscopic graphite,, petroleum coke (baked at 900°C) and spectroscopic carbon. The kinetics of the reactions were studied for different geometric surface areas over a wide range of concentrations of lead oxide and at different temperatures. In all cases the rate of oxidation was found to be directly proportional to the geometric surface area of the carbon sample used. The rate was also proportional to the square of the activity of lead oxide or equilibrium pressure of O₂ obtained from the dissociation of PbO in the melt. The experimental rate constant k values were calculated. The values of k for the oxidation of graphite, petroleum coke and carbon at 1000°C were found to be 1.35 x 10⁻², 1.31 x 10⁻² and 0.97 x 10⁻² gm.C/cm²/min. respectively. The values of the experimental activation energies of the oxidation of graphite, petroleum coke and carbon were found to be 33* 28 and 22 kilo-calories per mole respectively. In all cases carbon dioxide was the product gas. The results obtained in the present investigation indicated that the stoichiometry of the reaction is two molecules of lead oxide and an atom of carbon to produce metallic lead and carbon dioxide.

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