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Education
| 2004-2012 | BRG Spital an der Drau |
| 2012-2021 | Bachelorstudium Energy Engineering, University of Leoben, Austria (BSc) |
| 2021-2024 | Master’s degree program in Energy Engineering, University of Leoben, Austria, with focus on Energy Process Engineering |
| 2024 | Graduation (Dipl.-Ing.) Topic: Investigation of direct reduction of steel mill dust with hydrogen |
| since 2024 | PhD student and research associate at Institute of Nonferrous Metallurgy, University of Leoben, Austria |
PhD Thesis
Titel: Optimization of Reaction Parameters for Hydrogen Reduction of Electric Arc Furnace Dust
The recycling of galvanized scrap generates a zinc-containing dust fraction, usually called Electric Arc Furnance Dust EAFD, which is currently mainly treated in the carbon-based Waelz process. While the process is efficient in terms of zinc-recovery and process economy, it produces a secondary zinc concentrate with a large carbon footprint and underutilizes other valuable elements that are present in the EAFD. Climate change mitigation efforts require the substitution of carbon-based processes with carbon-neutral alternatives, such as hydrogen. To achieve this objective, it is important to have a fundamental understanding of the reaction kinetics of the reduction reactions with hydrogen. The present work investigates the influence of the temperature and H2O/H2 ratio on the reaction kinetics during the EAFD reduction. Experiments were conducted in a Thermogravimetric Analyzer TGA that was coupled with a Mass Spectrometer MS. The second objective was to develop an algorithm, that allows to distinguish between the reduction of zinc-oxide and iron-oxide by coupling the TGA and MS datasets. Experimental data demonstrated a full recovery of zinc (≻ 99 %) within a 60-minute hydrogen reduction period. The remaining solid material, which can be described as secondary-grade direct reduced iron (DRI), exhibited a high degree of metallization and a high iron concentration (≻ 70 %). Up to 1.150 °C, the reaction kinetics increased with the temperature. Above this point, the reactivity of the material decreased rapidly. During the reduction, the material shrinkage increased within reaction temperatures of 900-1.050 °C, but stagnated above that temperature. Interestingly, the H2O/H2 ratio of the atmosphere influenced the shrinkage behavior. A higher H2O concentration in the gas led to a higher material shrinkage. In contrast, the reaction kinetics decreased with higher H2O concentrations. The influence of the process parameters on the reaction kinetics of the EAFD could be identified.
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