| Abstract Scope |
Iron is reduced by melting pelletized fluxed iron ore concentrate at high temperatures with metallurgical coke, a very energy intensive process, directly producing greenhouse gases. Diffusion and in situ chemical reactions have been observed at near-room temperature in mechanical alloying. Iron ore concentrate powders were milled at room temperature with elemental silicon in air and argon environments with and without a process control agent (PCA), successfully creating elemental iron and sand mix, with a PCA additionally creating iron carbides. Reductions in the carbon footprint of iron making often centers around current methods, this new technology, termed “Chemical Comminution”, eliminates direct greenhouse gas production, lowers cost/energy, sustainable, while minimizing sulphur. Chemical Comminution can simply be applied to any ore with the Ellingham diagram a predictor of the process element. Existing comminution equipment could reduce capital while removing direct greenhouse gas emissions in one of the highest greenhouse gas producing industries. |