Clariant, a specialty chemicals company focused on sustainability, has renewed and expanded its partnership with Midrex to further collaborate on direct reduced iron (DRI) technology for low-carbon steel production.
The Midrex Process, a cleaner alternative to coal-based ironmaking, uses natural gas with recycled CO2 and H2O to generate reducing gas. It combines Midrex Reformers with Clariant’s REFORMEX Catalysts, which deliver high activity, excellent heat transfer, and strong mechanical stability. These features boost productivity, cut energy use, and significantly lower emissions, avoiding about one ton of CO2 per ton of crude steel.
Headquartered in Charlotte, North Carolina, Midrex is a global leader in DRI technology and services, with more than 50 years of experience. Its plants account for a large share of the world’s low-carbon DRI production and can operate on natural gas, natural gas with hydrogen (MidrexFlex), or 100pct hydrogen (Midrex H2), using a wide variety of iron ore inputs.
Clariant’s REFORMEX Catalysts have been used in the Midrex Process since the 1980s and are currently in operation at around 50 major steel plants worldwide, known for their durability, efficiency, and resistance to coking.