Magnetite reduction using H 2 -CO-N 2 mixtures with varying H 2 /CO molar ratios (9:1, 5:5, and 1:9) were investigated over 

a temperature range of 1400–1550℃ by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results show that both increasing the 

hydrogen content in the reducing gas mixture and elevating the reaction temperature signifi cantly accelerate the reduction

process. Analysis of peak distribution characteristics and interruption experiments indicate that the overall reduction 

proceeds in two distinct steps: Fe 3 O 4 → FeO followed by FeO → Fe. Kinetic modeling demonstrates that these steps are 

governed by diff erent mechanisms: the Fe 3 O 4 → FeO step is best described by a nucleation and growth model, while the 

FeO → Fe step follows a phase-boundary controlled (contracting cylinder) model. Using the model-fi tting method, the 

apparent activation energies (Ea) for Fe 3 O 4 → FeO were determined to be 73.65, 81.43, and 108.46 kJ/mol, and for FeO 

→ Fe were 114.35, 118.32, and 130.08 kJ/mol, corresponding to H 2 /CO ratios of 9:1, 5:5, and 1:9, respectively. In addition,

the model-free (iso-conversional) method was applied to evaluate the variation of Ea with conversion. The obtained 

activation energies for Fe 3 O 4 → FeO were 72.94, 89.62, and 97.27 kJ/mol, while those for FeO → Fe were 115.06, 

118.86, and 122.74 kJ/mol under the same H 2 /CO ratios. The close agreement between values derived from both methods 

confi rms the reliability of the kinetic analysis and provides robust insight into the reduction mechanisms of magnetite 

under mixed H 2 –CO atmospheres.