Finely divided iron oxide, distributed on a support so as to give a large surface area. One form is a mixture of wood shavings covered with a hydrated iron oxide. This may be made by mixing wet wood shavings with iron borings or similar material and allowing rusting to occur to produce finely divided iron oxide. In another method, wood shavings are mixed with a slurry of the hydrated ferric oxide produced in purifying alum and then dried. The iron sponge or iron mass is used for removing sulfur from coal gas or similar materials.
Use:
For precipitating copper or lead from solutions of their salts, and in electric furnace steel operations.