Recent trend of next generation ironmaking technology.

Smelting reduction processes are focussed rapidly by the decrease of cokes production caused by decrement of coke oven furnaces and problems of pollution and warmness by CO2 generation. Supporting technologies against shortness of cokes production are pulverized coal injection technique, new formed coke process and oxygen blowing through blast furnace tuyeres. Beyond these technologies, smelting reduction process is characterized by direct utilization of crude coal. This report will describe the targets and problems surrounding the smelting reduction processes, and will explain the state of the arts of the development of various smelting reduction processes, namely, Elred, CBF, Hlsmelt AISI Direct Steelmaking method, Plasmasmelt, Corex and DIOS processes.Limitation of CO2 generation is also the big problem in the various industries. In Japan, the ratio of CO2 generation by ironmaking and steelmaking plants is approximately 13%. Kawasaki Steel Corp has been succeeded in the developing the CO gas purification in off gas which comes from combined blowing converter. Purified CO gas is utilized as resources of C1 chemistry and as aggitation gas of converter instead of Ar gas.