MANGANESE METAL BY THE GOLDSCHMIDT PROCESS 341PREPARATION 72
MANGANESE METAL BY THE GOLDSCHMIDT PROCESS
The principle of the production of manganese by this process
is exactly the same as that of the production of chromium in
Preparation 66. On account of the violence of the reaction be-
tween the oxide of manganese and aluminum it is not advisable to
ignite the whole charge at once in the crucible; yet on account of
the high melting point of manganese a considerable quantity of
charge must be used in order to produce heat enough to obtain the
metal melted together in a uniform lump, instead of distributed in
small globules throughout the mass of the slag. Before mixing
up the charge, the pyrolusite which is used must be first heated by
itself in order to drive off any water which it may contain and to
convert it at least partially to the lower oxide,
Materials: powdered pyrolusite, MnO 2 , 900 grams,
granulated aluminum, 250 grams,
barium peroxide, 10 grams,
magnesium ribbon, 5 inches.
Apparatus: clay crucible of 600-cc. capacity,
gas furnace,
pail of dry sand,
long-handled iron spoon,
furnace glove,
hammer.Procedure: Place the pyrolusite in a crucible and heat it to a
bright heat in a gas furnace. To prepare the charge, mix 750 grams
of this material, when it is cooled sufficiently, with 250 grams of
granulated aluminum. Heat the empty crucible again in the
furnace, and while still hot imbed it in a pail of sand. Place about
20 grams of the charge in the bottom of the hot crucible. Put on
colored glasses and a heavy glove, and start the reaction with a
fuse powder made of 10 grams of barium peroxide and 1 gram of
aluminum, and a magnesium ribbon (see Preparation 66). When
this reaction has just passed its maximum intensity add about 20
grams more of the charge with the long-handled spoon; continue in
this way to add the charge in small portions following each other
rapidly. It is important not to let the reaction cool so that it