<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/fortescues-low-temperature-green-iron-process-ready-for-real-world-testing/>
"A project to turn Australia’s low grade iron ore into high grade magnetite at
very low temperatures is out of the lab and ready for real world testing, with
a government-funded trial proving the concept works.
The idea put to a scientific pressure test is Fortescue’s low‑temperature
direct electrochemical reduction (DER) process, which reduces iron ores to iron
metal at the super low temperature of 130ºC and doesn’t need hydrogen.
The main green hydrogen options in operation today swap in huge amounts of
electricity for coal to power a blast furnace, which works at temperatures
around 1000-2000ºC.
With lab- and benchtop-sized electrolysers validating Fortescue’s DER idea, the
science is now ready to be tested in a 100 kg-feed pilot that can convert at
least half of the feedstock into metallic iron, the final report from the
Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) says.
The process uses a solid-state slurry electrolyser with an alkaline electrolyte
designed so they can use intermittent renewable energy to make green iron at
low temperatures.
Green methane or hydrogen can be used in direct reduction technologies, but
currently works best on high grade ores as lower grades need extra processing
afterwards.
The Fortescue project wants to make ironmaking possible at lower temperatures,
with the report saying the technology “has the potential” to deliver energy
efficiency in the process and substantially reduce carbon emissions."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
