Carbothermic Reduction of Likak Celestite Concentrate

Mixtures of Likak celestite concentrate (98% SrSO4) and activated carbon (99% carbon) were prepared and reduced in high pure argon atmosphere (99.99%). The products after carbothermic reduction were studied by a combination of XRD and TGA/DTA experiments. The thermogravimetric analyses and XRD results showed that the formation temperature of strontium sulfide (SrS) appeared at about 720 0C. The carbothermic reduction progressed gradually and finished at about 1100 0C. The XRD results and thermodynamic analyses revealed that the only solid product was strontium sulfide and no intermediate compound was observed during carbothermic reduction.