Russia invents environmentally friendly method of steel production

National Research Uni​versity "Moscow Power Engineering Institute" (MPEI) has developed a new method of iron recovery from ores. This is stated in the message on the website of the educational organisation.

It is noted that the technology is based on the use of hydrocarbon mixture and natural gas. Scientists have designed a special reactor, in which the reduction of iron is carried out in the liquid phase in a continuous mode. As a result, smelting from metallurgical concentrate was achieved, bypassing the stage of pig iron production. The process time does not exceed 12 minutes.

It is emphasised that the new technology does not require additional equipment for obtaining reducing gas and makes it possible to reduce the cost of steel, reduce pollutant emissions, and almost halve the energy intensity of metallurgical production.

Nikolay Rogalev, Rector of MPEI, noted that the method will bring tangible benefits, as it allows to recover iron quickly and without unnecessary stages – in one continuous process.

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