Steel Production Giant, Air Liquide, Sets Out to Reduce CO2 emissions by 50%

Concerned by the environment, the leading world steel producers are participating in research programs aimed at reducing CO2 emissions by 50% by the year 2050.

In Luleå, in Sweden, Air Liquide has just realized a world first, on the MEFOS site (Metallurgical Research Institute). The Group has developed, built and tested a pilot plant enabling the CO2 to be separated from blast furnace gases, while at the same time recovering residual gases.

This work is being carried out within the context of the European ULCOS project (Ultra Low CO2 Steelmaking), coordinated by ArcelorMittal and involving leading European steel producers. Air Liquide is actively involved in this project. Air Liquide technology, combined with a recycling blast furnace, contributes to reduce the carbon’s consumption and hence the resulting CO2 emissions, and also, to obtain the needed pure CO2 to be stored underground. These tests have demonstrated the feasibility of the process and confirmed the improved energy efficiency of the blast furnace. The second phase of ULCOS will include an industrial-scale demonstration from 2010.

Posted April 9th,2008