Germany: The FEhS Building Materials Institute has published a report on the Save CO2 project investigating the suitability of electric hot metal slag (EHMS) from hydrogen-based direct reduction steelmaking for use in cement production. The project aims to establish whether EHMS might replace conventional ground granulated blast furnace slag. Laboratory and large-scale trials showed that EHMS achieves glass contents close to 100% and achieved comparable 91-day compressive strengths to ordinary Portland cement (OPC) and other slag cements in a 50% blend. Lifecycle assessments indicated a 35% reduction in CO2 emissions, subject to renewable energy supply. The German Federal Ministry of Research, Technology and Space funded the research.
FEhS Building Materials Institute says that the next steps will be to secure REACH registration and standardisation, ahead of eventually building a large-scale plant at a Thyssenkrupp Steel Europe site.
