Sponge iron reaction

The sponge iron reaction (SIR) is a chemical process based on redox cycling of an iron-based contact mass, the first cycle is a conversion step between iron metal (Fe) and wuestite (FeO), the second cycle is a conversion step between wuestite (FeO) and magnetite (Fe3O4).[1] In application, the SIT is used in the reformer sponge iron cycle (RESC) in combination with a steam reforming unit.

Process description

The process has two modes, a reduction mode and an oxidation mode.

Iron-wuestite

FeO + H
2 ↔ Fe + H
2O

Magnetite-wuestite

Fe
3O
4 + H
2 ↔ 3FeO + H
2O

Application

The reformer sponge iron cycle is a two step cycle to produce hydrogen from hydrocarbon fuels based SIR and steam.[2]

Reformer sponge iron cycle

In the first step the hydrocarbon fuel is reformed to syngas in the reformer which is then used to reduce the iron oxide (magnetite—Fe3O4) to iron (wüstite—FeO), in the second step steam is utilized to re-oxidise the iron into magnetite and hydrogen. The iron oxide pellets are placed in a pelletbed and have a service life of several thousand redox cycles.[3]

See also
  • Packed bed
  • Steam reforming

References
  1. Sponge iron process for manned space exploration
  2. A novel process for stationary hydrogen production: the reformer sponge iron cycle
  3. First investigations of structural changes of the contact mass in the RESC process for hydrogen production
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