ENVIRONMENTAL Clean Technologies says it has successfully tested its patented single step steel making process with a shipment of Mongolian brown coal.
The Matmor process is said to use a blend of brown coal and iron ore to create cleaner, low carbon steel. According to the company, it can be used in developing countries like China and India as an effective way of processing billions of tonnes or otherwise unviable resource.
The test recovered more than 90% of the metal in the form of a very low carbon and low sulphur pig iron/steel. It proved the process works with sub-bituminous coal and low grade iron ore deposits and can produce feedstock suited for secondary steel and iron production using Electric Arc or Induction furnaces.
The technology developer says replacing coking coal with sub-bituminous coal can produce savings of up to $345 a tonne, reduce emissions by as much as 50% compared to standard steel making plants, and slash capital expenditure because there is no need for coking ovens and sinter plants.
The process is still in its research and development phase, with the next test stage to scale up production to 6000t per annum.

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