Synergistic reduction of hematite by coconut shell charcoal and hydrogen in a fluidized bed

Based on the trend of green and low-carbon development of the steel industry, the utilization of hydrogen and biomass energy plays an important role. This process achieves zero carbon emission in the whole process compared with the traditional CH4 combustion for heat supply and CO + H2 mixed reduction, and the synergistic reduction of H2 and CSC reduces particle bonding and promotes the reduction process with minimal impact on energy consumption, in comparison with pure H2 reduction. The addition of CSC for 1.25 % and 2.5 % shows a positive synergistic effect at designed temperatures. When the CSC addition exceeds 2.5 %, the synergistic effect is positive below 800 °C and negative at higher temperatures. The positive/negative effect is related to the carbonate formation to promote reduction due to alkali metals in CSC, and the particles aggregation limits the further reduction, respectively. Kinetic analysis indicates that with or without CSC addition doesn't influence kinetic models, mainly controlled by interfacial chemical reaction and diffusion process, and CSC decreases the activation energy, especially for 2.5 % CSC addition. By integrating renewable resources into traditional metallurgical processes and developing the synergetic effect, it offers a pathway to reduce reliance on fossil fuels and decrease greenhouse gas emissions.