New process for iron production cuts emissions by 90 percent

China consumes 43% (275 million tons) of the global total ocean shipment of iron ore in 2005.

According to Gizmag, the new Corex-based plants, currently being built in China and scheduled to begin operation in late 2007, are certainly good news to the environment.

As a result of this traditional process with coking plant, powder metal facility and blast furnace, 1.4 kilograms of sulphur dioxide are created for each ton of pig iron. According to measurements taken by the TUV Rheinland, the Corex process sees this figure reduced to only 40 grams and the discharge of dust and nitrogen oxides is cut by more than 90 percent and sulphur dioxide emissions are reduced by 97 percent.

Corex is a smelting reduction process: Coal gasification, iron ore reduction, and liquefaction of the resulting iron are combined in one process. The gases produced can immediately be used for heating or for generating electricity in a gas and steam turbine power plant.