| abstract |
(57) [Problem] To efficiently reduce iron oxide to metal iron when producing iron metal by heating and reducing iron oxide such as iron ore together with a carbonaceous reducing agent such as carbonaceous material, Provided is a method and an apparatus capable of easily separating a slag forming component mixed as a gangue component or the like into an iron oxide source as metallic slag from metallic iron to obtain high-purity metallic iron in a high yield. SOLUTION: This is a method for producing a metallic iron by heating a raw material mixture containing iron oxide, an iron oxide-containing substance or a partially reduced product thereof, and a carbonaceous reducing agent to reduce iron oxide, and comprising slag in the raw material mixture. The composition of the forming components, such that the melting point of the slag at the end of the reduction is equal to or higher than the melting point of the generated metallic iron, A method for efficiently reducing iron oxide and facilitating the separation of raw metal iron by adjusting the composition of the raw material mixture is disclosed, and an apparatus suitable for carrying out the method is disclosed. |