Materials Science Forum, Vol.488-489, 39-42, 2005
Production of magnesium metal from Turkish calcined dolomite using vacuum silicothermic reduction method
In the present study, the production of magnesium metal from Turkish calcined dolomite containing 43.20% MgO and 47.46% CaO via Pidgeon process was studied under the pressure of I mbar. In the experiments, Turkish ferrosilicon containing 75% Si and 24% Fe was used as reducing agent. Effects of FeSi addition (90-150% of stoichiometric requirement of silicon) and time (60-240 min.) were investigated on recovering of metallic magnesium from calcined dolomite (dolime) at the temperature of 1200 degrees C. Effects of fluxing additive (CaF(2)), calcined magnesite and different temperatures on Mg recoveries and concentrations were also studied using with 100% of stoichiometric requirement of silicon for 180 min. It was found that magnesium recovery increases with increasing FeSi addition, temperature, time, CaF(2) addition and decreases with increasing calcined magnesite additions under the pressure of 1 mbar.