STEADY-STATE STUDIES OF THE REACTIONS OF H2O-CO AND CO2-H-2 MIXTURES WITH LIQUID-IRON

Studies have been made of the steady-state composition of liquid iron exposed to high flow rates of H2O-CO mixtures at 1550 degrees C to 170 0 degrees C and CO2-H-2 mixtures at 1600 degrees C. Values of the stea dy-state activity of oxygen have been established by measurement of ei ther the carbon concentration or the silicon concentration when the ir on was held in a silica crucible. Additions of sulfur or selenium to t he iron have been found to result in steady-state oxygen activities, w hich differ significantly from those expected from water-gas equilibri um. The results are interpreted to show that the ratio of the apparent first-order rate constants for the reactions of H2O and CO2 with liqu id iron is about 3 at 1600 degrees C. It is shown that the dependencie s of the rate constants on the activities of sulfur, oxygen, and selen ium must, even if complex, be similar for the H2O and CO2 reactions wi th liquid iron, to a good approximation.