DECOMPOSITION OF CARBON-DIOXIDE TO CARBON WITH ACTIVE WUSTITE AT 300-DEGREES-C

Active wustite (Fe(delta)O, with a delta-value of 0.98) was prepared by keeping normal wustite (delta-value of 0.94) in a N2 atmosphere at 300-degrees-C for 10 min. This reaction is given by (4-delta-2 - 3)Fe(delta-1)O --> (4-delta-1 - 3)Fe(delta-2)O + (delta-2 - delta-1)Fe3O4 where delta-1 = 0.94 and delta-2 = 0.98. The equation indicates that the normal wustite undergoes eutectoid decomposition into active wustite and stoichiometric magnetite (Fe3O4). Carbon dioxide (1.013 x 10(5) Pa) was almost completely (100%) decomposed into carbon (zero valence) by the active wustite at the low temperature of 300-degrees-C, which was associated with the transformation of the active wustite into the stoichiometric magnetite. The internal pressure of the reaction cell eventually became a vacuum.