Direct Reduction of Siderite Ore Combined with Catalytic CO/CO2 Hydrogenation to Methane and Methanol: A Technology Concept

Industrial CO ₂ emission mitigation necessitates holistic technology concepts; especially in high-emission industrial sectors like the iron and steel industry. A novel direct reduction technology with hydrogen reduces CO ₂ emissions in iron production from siderite ore by more than 60 %. Subsequent valorization of the process gas, consisting of unconverted hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and CO ₂, by catalytic hydrogenation to methane and methanol completes the technology concept. This route gives access to CO ₂ emission-lean iron production from siderite ore, fossil-free methane and methanol synthesis, and thus, improved energy density of the energy carrier hydrogen.