Thermodynamics of Impurities in Pure Iron Obtained by Hydrogen Reduction

Abstract

Hydrogen itself is not a primary energy and needs an energy for its production, which means that CO₂ will be exhausted during the production process, more or less. However, when a Green Hydrogen can be produced, it is a best way to use the hydrogen instead of carbon.
In this study, two kinds of iron ore were reduced and melted both under hydrogen and carbon atmosphere. The obtained iron metal under hydrogen atmosphere was quite pure one. The impurities in the metal were chemically and thermodynamically analyzed. The characteristics and benefits of hydrogen reduction were discussed in comparison with the carbon reduction.
The content of silicon in the metal under hydrogen atmosphere was one tenth to the iron obtained by carbon reduction. Manganese was about one third to one tenth against the carbon reduction. However, phosphorus in the hydrogen reduction was almost the same level to the carbon reduction. Sulfur content became half in the hydrogen reduction. Moreover, the content of hydrogen in the metal was the same level between the hydrogen reduction and the carbon reduction. It was found that the rate of hydrogen evolution from a molten metal during solidification was fast significantly. The activities of elements in the metal were calculated through the thermochemical data, and the relationships among those elements were elucidated.
From the thermodynamic analysis, a high oxygen activity in the metal obtained under hydrogen atmosphere caused to a low content of impurities and high activity of oxides related.