O$3(35\%).$ As a consultant you have been asked to report on the feasibility of two processes to

produce aluminum:

Thermal decomposition:

$A{l}_2{O}_{3}2Al+1\mathrm{.}5O_2$

$A{l}_2{O}_3+3CO=2Al+3C{O}_2$

CO reduction:

For thermal decomposition the proposed temperature is $2000oC.$ For $CO$ reduction the proposed

operating temperature is $1500oC$ and proceeds at $p_{CO}+p_{C{O}_2}=1$atm.

Assess the thermodynamic feasibility for each option considering such factors as achieving ultra$-$

low oxygen partial pressure and the equilibrium for the $CO-CO2$ system.

Hint: try to calculate the concentration$/$partial pressure of components from equilibrium

relationships and then assess the feasibility of calculated values. For $CO$ reduction, you must also

consider $C+CO2=2CO$ reaction. Also, note that a reaction might be possible from

thermodynamics perspective, but impractical.