【Ferro-alloys.com】ASX-listed technology company Calix has filed a patent for zero emissions iron and steel production.

The Zero Emissions Steel Technology (Zesty) process involves the use of Calix’s core kiln technology to reduce iron-ore to iron in a hydrogen atmosphere at temperatures considerably lower than those of a conventional blast furnace.

As the kiln could be electrically heated and handle intermittent operations, the process could make use of renewable energy sources, the company said on Friday. Furthermore, since hydrogen is not consumed as a fuel, but only used as a reductant, the process is targeting a theoretical minimum hydrogen use of 54 kg/t of iron.

For steel processing, the Zesty iron process will feed a standard electric arc furnace (C-EAF) with the addition of Calix’s low emissions intensity lime and cement (Leilac) kiln to produce a zero-emissions lime.

The lime produced from the Leilac technology could be directly fed to the Zesty reactor, and the addition of any extra carbon required in the C-EAF for the final steel mix could also be fed directly from the Leilac reactor.

Calix said on Friday that the technology would need to be scaled and tested, and the patent upheld, to achieve commercial success. Initial testing is under way at the Imperial College in London. 

• [Editor:zhaozihao]