Institute of Steel, Society of German Metallurgists, Düsseldorf:

H. B. Lüngen, Dr. Eng, redaktion@stahleisen.de

Iron and steel industry makes enormous efforts for reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in steel production. Most part of these emissions is forming in the process of iron ore reduction by coal-containing materials. The paper presents review and analysis of alternative processes of iron ore reduction in comparison with blast furnace practice, direct reduction and reduction melting. The new version of blast furnace process includes return of blast furnace gas and it allowed to cut carbon emissions by 25 % (based on experimental results). Such oxygen blast furnace has been developed in the framework of European program ULCOS (Ultra low CO₂ Steelmaking), presented by ThyssenKrupp Steel Europe AG. HIsarna process, the innovation in the area of reduction melting, has been tested on the pilot unit. Large-scale Coarse 50 program for reduction of carbon dioxide emissions in Japanese iron and steel industry stipulates putting into practice different measures for iron ore reduction. POSCO company (Corea) also realizes breakthrough technologies for cutting carbon dioxide emissions in steel making. Special analysis has been done regarding possibilities of carbon dioxide accumulation in Germany. However, large-scale reduction of these emissions can be achieved only via putting into operation CCS technology (CO₂ Capture and Storage).