Transformations in the Mn-O-Si system using concentrated solar energy

Abstract

Energy consumption and carbon dioxide emissions are a problem in the metallurgical industries. The synthesis of manganese and silicomanganese using concentrated solar energy is proposed in this paper. Mixtures of oxide of manganese (IV) and silicon (50 wt% and 75 wt%) were treated in a 1.5 kW solar furnace located in Odeillo. Results demonstrated that mixtures of manganese and silicon, but also silicomanganese, are obtained after treatment even in the less favorable situation: without iron, which reduces the liquidus temperature, and without slag-forming reagents.