Application of Solid Reductant Processes for Direct Reduction in India

Efforts to develop commercially acceptable direct redu-ction processes during the last two decades are possibly
a revival of efforts made in this direction some two cent-uries ago. In 1792, Samuel Lucas obtained a patent for converting iron ore to metal using charcoal as reductant. (1) Adrien Chenot also took a patent some time in the middle of the last century to produce sponge iron util-ising iron ore concentrates and charcoal in a retort. (2) There are many other names and attempts associated with the early development of direct reduction which are only of historic interest today.