Solar Energy Fluized Bed Reduction of Ilmenite With Hydrogen and Methane at High Temperature

Ilmenite is one of the main components in lunar soil reaching about 14% at the Apollo 11 landing site. A 1.5 kW solar furnace has been employed to reduce ilmenite at high temperature with hydrogen and methane. The coupling of the solar furnace with the sound assisted fluidized bed apparatus is described together with the results obtained. The results have been compared with the ones reported previously in a sound assisted fluidized bed study. Thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction and SEM-EDS techniques were utilized to investigate the reaction mechanisms involved in the various steps of the process.