A major disadvantage of steelmaking is that it is responsible for high levels of carbon emissions linked to climate change. The steel industry is looking for ways to reduce carbon emissions.
A warehouse equipment manufacturer makes manual handling and storage equipment using steel. There are many advantages of steel, such as its strong, lightweight, durable and cost-effective qualities.
Traditional steelmaking uses blast furnaces powered by coal. Producers are in the process of transitioning to electric arc furnaces that use renewable energy sources instead of fossil fuels.
A team at the ArcelorMittal site in Belgium is developing technology that recycles captured carbon emissions, transforming them into carbon monoxide (CO) which can replace coal to fuel steelmaking furnaces. Splitting carbon dioxide (CO 2) into oxygen and CO particles is a well-known process which requires high temperatures and is usually powered by fossil fuels. The Belgian system uses a plasma reactor powered by electricity that can be generated by renewable energy sources.
Plasma is a very common substance that is seen in lightning sparks when a power cord is unplugged at speed. Plasma can break the bond between molecules, including those in CO 2.
The technology has been tested successfully on a small scale. There are plans to scale the technology to split one million tonnes of CO 2 to become one of the many solutions to decarbonise steelmaking.
The plasma reactor development team say that the technology could be used for a wide range of other applications including the production of methanol, ethanol, and sustainable aviation fuel.
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