Abstract: Direct reduced iron (DRI) is obtained from iron ore by reduction using microwave assisted low temperature hydrogen plasma. The process includes steps of: (a) loading iron ore onto a sample holder (b) placing the sample holder inside a chamber followed by evacuating the chamber; (c) introducing hydrogen gas in the chamber at flow rate ranging between 100-500 standard cubic centimeters (sccm) followed by heating the sample holder and the iron ore at a temperature ranging between 300-800° C., a pressure ranging between 20-100 torr and a microwave power ranging between 500-1500 W to obtain direct reduced iron; and (d) cooling the direct reduced iron obtained in step (c) by flowing hydrogen at flow rate of about 300 sccm.

Abstract: A green process for the preparation of direct reduced iron (DRI) from iron ore by reduction using microwave assisted low temperature hydrogen plasma, wherein the said process includes the steps of: loading of iron ore onto the sample holder followed by evacuating of the chamber; introducing the hydrogen gas in the chamber at flow rate ranging between 100-500 sccm followed by heating the holder and sample at temperature ranging between 300-800° C. and pressure ranging between 20-100 torr and at microwave power ranging between 500-1500 W to obtain direct reduced iron; and cooling the direct reduced iron as obtained in step (b) at temperature ranging between 300-800° C. by flowing hydrogen at flow rate of about 300 sccm.