Sustainable Steelmaking

To avert the most catastrophic effects of climate change, we must decarbonize all sectors of technology in our society. Manufacturing and material processing contribute ~15% of global emissions, necessitating that we rethink how industry could be made more sustainable — in the near- and long-term. To implement these large changes requires significant work in policy, economics, industry, and science.

Iron Reduction Chemistry for Sustainable Steelmaking

Steelmaking currently accounts for 8-10% of global CO2 emissions annually. Of that carbon footprint, 64% arises from the ironmaking process in which iron oxide ores are oxidized into Fe(0) using cokes comprised of activated coal. To decarbonize this process, we need a closer look at the multiscale chemistry that underlies the reduction process - for today’s CO/CO2 process and new H2-based processes.

Our group uses cutting-edge X-ray, electron, and optical measurement tools to measure how the multiscale dynamics of this reduction chemistry govern the efficiency and viability of different proposed sustainable technologies.