| Project Detail |
Tufts University is developing a method to directly reduce iron ore concentrates with ammonia, eliminating all direct process emissions from the ironmaking step, as well as emissions that result from baking iron ore with clay to make hard pellets. The proposed approach would use ammonia to enable reduction of high-gangue ores as well as decrease melting costs of the reduced iron product. By bypassing the pellet-hardening step, using low-grade ores, and lowering melting costs, this new approach to ammonia-based reduction would reduce the cost of domestic steel while decreasing total steel emissions by greater than 60%.
Market Impact Potential:
Tufts University’s technology has the potential to disrupt and transform U.S. ironmaking, which would enhance domestic energy security and lower emissions. The proposed technology is designed to utilize existing furnace types already widely used in ore processing. If successful, the method saves 10-25% of the total cost of producing hot-rolled coil, or more if using lower-grade ores. |
