Source Review: Lunarpedia — Ilmenite Reduction
Summary
| Verdict | Count |
|---|---|
| Consistent | 3 |
| Different conclusion | 0 |
| Novel supporting | 1 |
| Merits investigation | 0 |
| Not relevant | 0 |
Claim 1 — Reaction chemistry
Quote: "FeTiO3 + H2 → Fe + TiO2 + H2O; 2 H2O → 2 H2 + O2; net: 2 FeTiO3 → 2 Fe + 2 TiO2 + O2"
Verdict: Consistent (q3.c10)
Why: Standard chemistry, confirmed. Net reaction shows the hydrogen serves as a working gas (recovered via water electrolysis) — small steady-state Earth import.
Claim 2 — Temperature 1050°C
Verdict: Consistent (q3.c2)
Why: Matches the 1050°C operating temperature I assumed in pass-2 calc.
Claim 3 — TRL described qualitatively
Quote: "Hydrogen reduction is one method currently being tested by many Universities."
Verdict: Different conclusion — actually, no, consistent qualitatively but Lunarpedia doesn't give a TRL number. Verdict: Consistent (q3.c3) — Lunarpedia is consistent with TRL 5-6 framing from NASA Sanders 2025 + Lyon Industries 2026, just less specific.
Claim 4 — Lunar siting constraint
Quote: "This process is best utilized if the plant is sited in a location in which ilmenite composes a high fraction of the soil."
Verdict: Consistent (q3.c10)
Why: Direct qualitative support for the mare-specificity claim.
Claim 5 — Products listed
Verdict: Novel supporting
Why: Free iron + TiO2 byproduct + O2 (via water electrolysis loop) — this is consistent with my q3.c9 materials rollup but useful to have explicitly listed for q4 / q8 synthesis: ilmenite reduction is a multi-product process whose economic value includes the Fe + TiO2 streams as well as the O2.