Video interview with Pavel Ivashechkin from BFI (Germany) on how ZHyRON is treating and recycling process water to enable a fully circular steel production cycle.
ZHyRON has just released the second episode of its From Waste to Value video interview series, featuring Pavel Ivashechkin from BFI – Research Institute for the Steel Industry, Germany.
In this episode, Pavel explains BFI’s role in the ZHyRON project, which focuses on treating and recycling process water generated by the GreenIron hydrogen furnace. During hydrogen-based reduction of iron and residual materials, a significant amount of water is produced: about 30% of the reduced material ends up as water. BFI develops customised treatment technologies to separate heavy metals and salts, recycle zinc, and prepare water for either reuse in the reduction process or safe discharge.
This work is a key part of ZHyRON’s goal to achieve a fully closed circular cycle, where water is an integral resource rather than a by-product. Recycled water can even be electrolysed to produce hydrogen, feeding back into the reduction process and further enhancing sustainability.
BFI’s contribution highlights the importance of applied research and close collaboration with industry in developing practical solutions for a circular steel production process.
Click the image below to watch the video and discover how BFI is turning process water into a reusable resource, supporting ZHyRON’s vision for a cleaner and more circular steel industry.
Cover image by David Becker on Unsplash
