Abstract: A method for compaction of iron bearing materials includes the steps of accumulating iron and steel plant waste materials, including iron bearing fines, hazardous mill waste products, fines, turnings, borings, sludge, dust, mill scale, and the like; and agglomerating such materials by ram briquetting in a ram briquetter.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for reducing iron oxide to metallic iron, utilizing a continuous process employing a reducing gas with high hydrogen and carbon monoxide content made by a catalytically reforming mixture of hydrocarbons, reacted off-gases from the reduction process and steam generated from waste heat from the process and or flue gases. Carbon dioxide and water vapor present in the reacted off-gas is utilized as a hydrocarbon reforming oxidant. Steam generated from waste heat from process and/or waste flue gas is also used as a hydrocarbon reforming oxidant. The steam injected into the process gas stream is also used to control the hydrogen-carbon monoxide ratio required for efficient reduction of iron oxide to metallic iron.