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

Industrial CO2 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 CO2 emissions in iron production from siderite ore by more than 60 %. Subsequent valorization of the process gas, consisting of unconverted hydrogen, carbon monoxide, and CO2, by catalytic hydrogenation to methane and methanol completes the technology concept. This route gives access to CO2 emission-lean iron production from siderite ore, fossil-free methane and methanol synthesis, and thus, improved energy density of the energy carrier hydrogen.