Tue Feb 25 03:30:09 UTC 2025: ## IIT Bombay Researchers Develop Green Hydrogen Catalyst for Sustainable Steel Production
**Mumbai, February 25, 2025** – A team of researchers from the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay (IIT Bombay) has developed a sustainable catalyst for green hydrogen production, paving the way for a significant reduction in carbon emissions from the steel industry. The steel industry is a major contributor to global CO2 emissions, accounting for 7-9% of the total.
The researchers, led by Professor Arnab Dutta, have published their findings in the *Journal of Energy and Climate Change*. Their work focuses on utilizing green hydrogen in the hydrogen-based direct reduction of iron (H-DRI) process, replacing coal-based methods. H-DRI uses hydrogen to convert iron ore into steel, producing water vapor instead of CO2.
Currently, most hydrogen production relies on fossil fuels. The IIT Bombay team is focusing on water electrolysis powered by renewable energy sources like solar and wind to create green hydrogen. This process, however, requires efficient and cost-effective catalysts.
The researchers have developed cobalt-based catalysts (cobaloximes), a cheaper and more sustainable alternative to traditional noble metals like platinum and palladium. They have enhanced the catalysts’ performance by incorporating amino acids and vitamins, improving hydrogen production rates and making them functional even in challenging environments like seawater.
The team also explored different electrolyser and furnace types, finding that cobaloximes perform well in both alkaline and proton exchange membrane electrolysers. They demonstrated that a multi-stack electrolyser system can significantly increase hydrogen production compared to single-stack systems.
Combining H-DRI with electric arc furnaces, also powered by renewable energy, can create a near carbon-neutral steel production process. Further emissions reductions can be achieved by integrating carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS) technologies.
The IIT Bombay research highlights a promising path towards sustainable steel production, significantly reducing the industry’s environmental impact and contributing to a greener future.
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