Manganese(III) oxide Manganese(III) oxide Manganese(III) oxide is a chemical compound with the formula MnO. Heating MnO in air at below 800 °C produces α-MnO (higher temperatures produce MnO). γ-MnO can be produced by oxidation followed by dehydration of manganese(II) hydroxide. Many preparations of nano-crystalline MnO have been reported, for example syntheses involving oxidation of Mn salts or reduction of MnO. Manganese (III) oxide is formed by the redox reaction in an alkaline cell: Manganese (III) oxide MnO must not be confused with MnOOH manganese (III) oxyhydroxide. Contrary to MnO, MnOOH is a compound that decomposes at about 300 °C to form MnO.
Manganese natural gas provides the heat (needs to be at least 850 °C) and the reducing agent (carbon monoxide). This reduces all of the manganese ore to manganese oxide (MnO), which is a leachable form. The ore then travels through a grinding circuit to reduce the particle size of the ore to between 150–250 μm, increasing the surface area to aid leaching. The ore is then added to a leach tank of sulfuric acid and ferrous iron (Fe) in a 1.6:1 ratio. The iron reacts with the manganese dioxide to form iron hydroxide and elemental manganese. This process yields approximately 92%