SteirEiSen - Styrian iron - hydrogen direct reduction of siderite ore from the Styrian ore mine

The iron and steel industry is one of the most important, yet highest-emitting, industrial sectors. Austrian production relies, among other things, on siderite ore, a carbonate iron ore from the Styrian Erzberg, which is challenging to use due to its carbonate nature. Direct hydrogen reduction of siderite ore bypasses the conventional route of calcination and reduction in the blast furnace, as elemental iron is formed directly from the iron carbonate. This results in a CO2 emission reduction of ≥60%. The process gas can be further upgraded by the formation of reduced carbon species. The project objective is to develop a process concept for incorporating the direct hydrogen reduction of siderite ore into an overall hydrogen-based process for the production of crude steel from iron ore.