Title

SUSTAINABLE IRON PRODUCTION VIA HYDROGEN-BASED REDUCTION AND ELECTROLYSIS OF IRON ORES: BASIC RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

SUSTAINABLE IRON PRODUCTION VIA HYDROGEN-BASED REDUCTION AND ELECTROLYSIS OF IRON ORES: BASIC RESEARCH OPPORTUNITIES

Authorship

Filho, Isnaldi R. Souza; Ma, Yan; Mahajan, Ankita; Büyükuslu, Ömer K.; Jovičević-Klug, Matic; Ponge, Dirk; Springer, Hauke; Raabe, Dierk

Filho, Isnaldi R. Souza

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Ma, Yan

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Mahajan, Ankita

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Büyükuslu, Ömer K.

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Jovičević-Klug, Matic

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Ponge, Dirk

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Springer, Hauke

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Raabe, Dierk

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DOI

10.5151/5463-5463-35037

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Abstract

Iron- and steelmaking is the most staggering single industrial source of CO2 on the planet, accounting for ~7% of the global emissions. This fact imposes the urgent need for achieving carbon-lean steel production, thus helping to mitigate the CO2 emissions. Among the sustainable alternatives for ironmaking, the hydrogen-based reduction and electrolysis of iron ores emerge as attractive technologies. Hydrogen as reducing agent for iron oxides can be exploited either in its molecular form or in the plasma state. In the first scenario, the so-called hydrogen-based direct reduction, the ore is exposed to hydrogen at 800-1000°C. The material gets gradually reduced into sponge iron which is subsequently melted in electric arc furnaces (EAF) together with scraps to produce steel. The second variant, i.e. hydrogen plasma reduction, enables to produce liquid iron directly from its ores by exposing them to a hydrogen thermal plasma created in an EAF. In contrast to traditional carbon-based ironmaking, both hydrogen-based processes yield water as a by-product rather than CO2. The electrolysis of iron ores allows for the direct use of electrons as a reducing agent. It can be conducted using molten ores or at low temperatures (100°C) with ores in aqueous suspension. Here, we present experimental results for green iron production using the above-mentioned routes. Their characteristics are discussed together with future perspectives for basic research in these fields.

Iron- and steelmaking is the most staggering single industrial source of CO2 on the planet, accounting for ~7% of the global emissions. This fact imposes the urgent need for achieving carbon-lean steel production, thus helping to mitigate the CO2 emissions. Among the sustainable alternatives for ironmaking, the hydrogen-based reduction and electrolysis of iron ores emerge as attractive technologies. Hydrogen as reducing agent for iron oxides can be exploited either in its molecular form or in the plasma state. In the first scenario, the so-called hydrogen-based direct reduction, the ore is exposed to hydrogen at 800-1000°C. The material gets gradually reduced into sponge iron which is subsequently melted in electric arc furnaces (EAF) together with scraps to produce steel. The second variant, i.e. hydrogen plasma reduction, enables to produce liquid iron directly from its ores by exposing them to a hydrogen thermal plasma created in an EAF. In contrast to traditional carbon-based ironmaking, both hydrogen-based processes yield water as a by-product rather than CO2. The electrolysis of iron ores allows for the direct use of electrons as a reducing agent. It can be conducted using molten ores or at low temperatures (100°C) with ores in aqueous suspension. Here, we present experimental results for green iron production using the above-mentioned routes. Their characteristics are discussed together with future perspectives for basic research in these fields.

Keywords

Green steel; Hydrogen-based reduction of iron ores; Electrolysis of iron ores; Sustainable Metallurg

Green steel; Hydrogen-based reduction of iron ores; Electrolysis of iron ores; Sustainable Metallurg