Addition of DRI/HBI and scrap to the blast furnace – A means to reduce greenhouse gas emissions?

Direct reduced iron (DRI) and hot briquetted iron (HBI) are added to electric arc furnaces (EAFs) to dilute scrap residuals; added to the basic oxygen furnaces to displace purchased scrap; or added to the blast furnace to decrease coke rate and increase productivity [1]. In Europe, the imperative to reduce carbon dioxide emissions has renewed interest in adding DRI/HBI directly to the blast furnace to reduce its carbon consumption. The merits of adding DRI to blast furnaces to reduce CO2 emissions has not been well documented.