Importance

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Abstract

Direct reduced iron (DRI) is produced at a facility comprising a catalytic reformer physically associated with a vertical shaft furnace. A biogas is produced by anaerobically fermenting an annually renewable biomass, such as corn plant residue (stover). The biogas consists essentially of methane and carbon dioxide (CH₄+CO₂). The carbon dioxide is retained, and the biogas with the retained carbon dioxide is introduced into the catalytic reformer where the methane is cracked to produce carbon and gaseous hydrogen, a reducing gas (CH4→C+2H₂). The retained carbon dioxide in the biogas reacts with the carbon from the cracking step to produce carbon monoxide, another reducing gas (C+CO₂→2CO). The two reducing gases are introduced into the vertical shaft furnace to convert iron ore to direct reduced iron. The retention of CO₂ in the biogas reduces the amount of recycled top-gas CO₂ required at the reformer.

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First Claim