Transforming steelmaking into an environmentally sustainable industry: development of breakthrough extraction and refining technologies

本提案描述了开发从矿石中提铁、精炼最终钢材和矿渣副产品有价化的突破性技术的计划。原钢的年需求量为16亿吨，是通过高炉碳热还原生产的，排放二氧化碳数百万吨(约占人类温室气体排放总量的4%-7%来自炼钢)。环境问题促使世界各地的行业寻求无害环境的技术，为此，钢铁行业正在探索使用电化学技术的可行性，这种技术可能是无碳的。该项目旨在将炼钢转变为一个环境友好和可持续的行业。该工作计划包括三个并行的部分，重点是：(I)开发和推进高温电解法提铁，(Ii)开发用于生产高纯钢的创新电精炼工艺，以及(Iii)开发钢渣价化和惰化的新工艺。初步结果为这些过程建立了原则证明。为了实现该项目的目标，将采取一种多学科的方法，将材料科学与工程、熔盐电化学与热力学、湿法冶金、材料表征以及过程工程与优化结合在一起。该项目利用Tenova GoodFloor的专业知识、设施和资金，Tenova GoodFloor是一家基于知识的开创性技术提供公司，与多伦多大学的Azimi小组建立了为期4年的合作伙伴关系，为广泛的行业提供尖端技术，尤其是炼钢技术。该项目在学术卓越、行业竞争优势和高素质人才方面对加拿大非常有利，因为它为以知识为基础的经济和环境影响创造了机会，并增强了钢铁行业的技术优势。

This proposal describes the plan for the development of breakthrough technologies for the extraction of iron from ore, refinement of the final steel product, and valorization of the slag byproduct. Primary steel, with the annual demand of 1.6 billion tons, is produced by carbothermic reduction in blast furnace, emitting million tons of CO2 (about 4-7% of the total anthropogenic GHG emissions emanate from steelmaking). Environmental concerns led industries worldwide to search for environmentally sound technologies, and to this end, the steel industry is exploring the feasibility of using electrochemical technologies that can potentially be carbon free.This project aims to transform steelmaking into an environmentally friendly and sustainable industry. The work plan involves three concurrent Segments focusing on: (I) Developing and advancing high temperature electrolysis for iron extraction, (II) Developing an innovative electrorefining process for producing high purity steel, and (III) Developing a novel process for the valorization and inertization of steel slag. Preliminary results have established proof-of-principle for these processes. To achieve the goals of the project, a multidisciplinary approach that places at the intersection of materials science and engineering, molten salt electrochemistry and thermodynamics, hydrometallurgy, materials characterization, and process engineering and optimization will be followed.This project leverages expertise, facilities, and funds from Tenova Goodfellow, a knowledge based, pioneering technology-providing company offering cutting edge know-how to a wide range of industries, in particular steelmaking, in a 4-year partnership with the Azimi group at the University of Toronto. This project is highly beneficial for Canada in terms of academic excellence, industrial competitive advantage, and highly qualified personnel, as it creates the opportunity for knowledge based economic and environmental impact as well as enhanced technical edge in the steelmaking industry.