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Thermodynamic Analysis on Lunar Soil Reduced by Hydrogen

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Abstract

Although many experiments have been performed to reduce the lunar soil by hydrogen, no systematic thermodynamic analysis has been developed to design and optimize these experiments. Applying a thermodynamic model to the system of simulant lunar soil and hydrogen, this study analyzes and discusses the thermodynamic behavior of the system in detail. The calculations demonstrate that iron is the only metal that can be extracted significantly from the lunar soil. The amount of hydrogen in the system drastically affects the processes of iron extraction and water production. However, the effect of system pressure can be neglected in the process. The yields of metallic iron and water from the lunar soil as functions of temperature and hydrogen content are investigated in this study. Additionally, the calculations explain the metallic iron on the surface of the moon from the thermodynamic point of view.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the financial support provided by the National Science Foundation, ACIPCO, and The University of Alabama.

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Author notes

  1. Yuhao Lu (Graduate Student, Postdoctoral Research Fellow)

    Present address: Department of Mechanical Engineering, University of Texas, Austin, TX, 78712, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA

    Yuhao Lu (Graduate Student, Postdoctoral Research Fellow)

  2. Department of Metallurgical and Materials Engineering, University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa, AL, 35487, USA

    Divakar Mantha (Research Engineer) & Ramana G. Reddy (ACIPCO Endowed Chair Professor)

Authors
  1. Yuhao Lu
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  2. Divakar Mantha
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  3. Ramana G. Reddy
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Ramana G. Reddy.

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Manuscript submitted February 7, 2010.

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Lu, Y., Mantha, D. & Reddy, R.G. Thermodynamic Analysis on Lunar Soil Reduced by Hydrogen. Metall Mater Trans B 41, 1321–1327 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-010-9411-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11663-010-9411-3

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