Reduction of fine ores in argon-hydrogen plasma

The steel industry is a major source of global CO2 emission. Larger reductions of greenhouse gases are the challenge to develop new processes, like Hydrogen Plasma Smelting Reduction (HPSR). The present paper shows physical and chemical fundamentals for the reduction of iron oxides with hydrogen plasma. The behaviour of different hematite iron ores during melting and reduction with hydrogen plasma were investigated with thermogravimetry and a laboratory plasma furnace. The path of iron oxides during smelting and reduction in the Fe-O phase diagram are described. Reduction tests in the laboratory furnace show the possibility to reduce hematite iron ores with hydrogen plasma in a short time with high utilization degrees without direct CO2 emissions.