KINETICS OF ROASTING OF CHROMIUM-OXIDE WITH SODIUM-NITRATE FLUX

Low temperature isothermal kinetic studies were performed on alkali ro asting of Cr2O3 with progressive replacement of Na2CO3 in the reaction mixture by NaNO3 in the temperature range of 573 to 873 K. The influe nce of the nitrate on the course of the reactions was studied. Statist ical design of experiments was employed to asses the relative influenc e of different process variables. Kinetic analysis of the experimental data shows that the reaction with NaNO, follows a simple first-order model, and the activation energy of the reaction is 22.7 kJmol(-1), as compared to 72 kJmol(-1) for Na2CO3 flux.