Factors influencing the reduction of barium sulphate

Abstract The reduction of pure barium sulphate and of barytes to barium sulphide and soluble barium compounds has been carried out in an indirectly heated tube furnace using carbon as the reducing agent. Increasing the reduction temperature increases the yield of barium compounds. The best yield is obtained with a reduction period of 1–2 h at 850–1100°C, while excluding air during the reduction and subsequent cooling process. The influence of ferric oxide and silica impurities on the yield of soluble barium products has been studied at a reduction temperature of 1000°C. Both reduce the yield of soluble barium products, ferric oxide having a much greater effect. The effect of these two impurities is not additive, silica minimizing the effect of ferric oxide.