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Ilmenite is one of the main components in lunar soil reaching about 14% at the Apollo 11 landing site. A 1.5 kW solar furnace has been employed to reduce ilmenite at high temperature with hydrogen and methane. The coupling of the solar furnace with the sound assisted fluidized bed apparatus is described together with the results obtained. The results have been compared with the ones reported previously in a sound assisted fluidized bed study. Thermogravimetry, X-ray diffraction and SEM-EDS techniques were utilized to investigate the reaction mechanisms involved in the various steps of the process.

Batches of very fine grains of ilmenite mineral (FeTiO3), close to the dimensions of ilmenite in lunar soils have been hydrogen reduced at temperatures over to 1000 K, utilizing a sound assisted fluidized bed. The feasibility of the process has been demonstrated together with the determination of process parameters. The rate of the process at fixed temperature has been experimentally determined and the water produced collected in each experience, about 10 cc for 100 g of ilmenite sample . Non destructive analyses of the products were carried out showing the formation of a layer of low porosity on the samples surface and a characteristic vein-like structure of TiO2. A possible utilization of the technique to reduce entrainment problems is envisaged from the present work.