Research on Sustainable Steelmaking

The international steel community is faced with the challenge of developing processes that will make steel production more sustainable in the future. Specifically, processes that produce less CO₂ and less net waste materials and emissions and that consume less energy are required. This article outlines where energy consumption and CO₂ emissions are high and can be reduced. Reductions can be achieved by incremental improvements to existing processes or by a “break-through innovative process”; both strategies are examined. Since most of the energy consumption and CO₂ generation occur in ironmaking, research in this area is emphasized. Research on controlling the cohesive zone in the blast furnace, improving the final stages of reduction in direct reduction processes, the use of biomass, and other innovative processes for ironmaking are reviewed. In oxygen steelmaking, improved postcombustion (PC) to allow for more scrap melting is examined. Postcombustion and slag foaming in the electric arc furnace (EAF) in order to reduce energy is reviewed.