How is pure molybdenum metal produced from molybdenum trioxide?

Pure molybdenum metal is produced from molybdenum trioxide (${\text{MoO}}_3$) through a hydrogen reduction process carried out in electrically heated tubes or muffle furnaces.12

The reduction typically occurs in two stages, either in separate furnaces with cooling in between or in a two-zone furnace. In the first stage, the oxide is reduced to a dioxide at temperatures between 600–700 °C (1,100–1,300 °F). In the second stage, the material is further reduced to metal powder at 1,000–1,100 °C (1,800–2,000 °F). To prevent sintering or uncontrolled reactions, a three-stage process beginning at a lower temperature of 400 °C (750 °F) is sometimes utilized.1

Once the molybdenum is obtained as a powder, it is converted into massive metal using either a powder-metallurgy process or an arc-casting process. Because of its extremely high melting point, the metal is often melted in an electric arc, where it may be deoxidized by carbon and cast into water-cooled copper molds.12