Kinetics and mechanism of the reduction of molten nickel sulfide by hydrogen

The kinetics and mechanism of the reduction of M₃S₂ by hydrogen have been investigated between 1133° and 1300°C. When high flow rates of hydrogen and argon or helium bubbling through the melt are maintained the rate-determining step is a chemical process which can be expressed by a rate law of the form $$\begin{gathered} r_{H_2 S} = k_{expt} (N_S - \alpha )^2 p_{H_2 }^{1/2} \hfill \\ p_{H_2 } \geqslant 0.88atm \hfill \\ \end{gathered} $$ where k_expt = 85.1 atm^-1/2 min^-1, α = 0.17 at 1250°C. The experimental activation energy for this process is 20.1 ±3.0 kcal per mole. These results are discussed in terms of possible catalysis by nickel.