Laser-induced Magnesium Production from Magnesium Oxide for Renewable Magnesium Energy Cycle.
Abstract
We succeeded in reducing magnesium [Mg] from magnesium oxide [MgO] by laser irradiation. The laser-induced vapor temperature was measured to be approximately 5000 K on the irradiating spot, where MgO separated into Mg and oxygen [O] atoms through thermal dissociation. The Mg vapor was intercepted a cooper plate, forming solid deposits on it. However, the presence of oxygen, resulting from MgO dissociation, leads to Mg oxidization in the course of vapor cooling. The deoxidization process results in lower Mg fraction in the deposits and degrades energy recovery efficiency from laser irradiation. To quench this recombination, we also employed silicon as reducing agents to capture oxygen in favor of Mg extraction. In these experiments, the molar ratio effect (MgO:Si = 1:0-1) on the magnesium fractions and energy efficiencies were measured by means of a chemical reaction. The maximal energy efficiency, %, was obtained at the ratio of MgO:Si = 1:0.5. This ratio is lower than that of the Pidgeon process with Mg:Si = 1:1 resulting in a lower energy efficiency of %. This implies laser-induced Mg production is a economical process of using reducing agents with large throughput. The usage of laser radiation generated from solar energy for Mg metallurgy will significantly reduce CO2 emission.
- Publication:
-
International Symposium on High Power Laser Ablation 2010
- Pub Date:
- October 2010
- DOI:
- 10.1063/1.3507113
- Bibcode:
- 2010AIPC.1278..271L
- Keywords:
-
- laser beam applications;
- oxidation;
- spectrometers;
- optical fibres;
- 42.60.Jf;
- 81.65.Mq;
- 07.60.Rd;
- 42.81.Cn;
- Beam characteristics: profile intensity and power;
- spatial pattern formation;
- Oxidation;
- Visible and ultraviolet spectrometers;
- Fiber testing and measurement of fiber parameters