Sustainable Ironmaking and Steelmaking: Challenges and Opportunities
A special issue of Metals (ISSN 2075-4701).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 28 February 2026 | Viewed by 11
Special Issue Editor
Interests: low-carbon ironmaking; industrial safety control; efficient utilization of resources and energy; development of new materials
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The iron and steel industry is a cornerstone of global industrialization, yet it remains one of the largest contributors to carbon emissions, accounting for approximately 7–9% of the world’s total CO2 output. As climate change mitigation becomes increasingly urgent, the development of sustainable ironmaking and steelmaking technologies has emerged as a critical priority. This Special Issue focuses on the latest advancements and innovations in low-carbon metallurgy and intelligent metallurgy, two crucial research domains that promise to reshape the future of the industry.
Low-carbon metallurgy encompasses both the optimization of traditional integrated steelmaking routes and the adoption of breakthrough short-process technologies. For the conventional blast furnace–basic oxygen furnace (BF-BOF) route, key strategies include oxygen-enriched operation together with top gas recycling, hydrogen reduction, the utilization of low-carbon ferrous burden, carbon capture and utilization (CCU), and using alternative carbon sources such as biomass. Meanwhile, short-process routes, such as hydrogen-based direct reduction (H₂-DRI) coupled with electric arc furnaces (EAFs), are gaining traction as they significantly reduce reliance on fossil fuels. Emerging technologies include hydrogen-based shaft furnace, fluidized bed, smelting reduction, etc.
In parallel, intelligent metallurgy is revolutionizing the industry through integrating artificial intelligence (AI), big data, and advanced automation. AI-driven process optimization, predictive maintenance, and real-time quality control are enhancing efficiency, reducing energy consumption, and minimizing waste. Machine learning models are being deployed to simulate complex metallurgical reactions, accelerating the discovery of novel materials and processes.
This Special Issue invites cutting-edge research and reviews addressing the scientific, technological, and economic challenges in sustainable ironmaking and steelmaking. By fostering interdisciplinary collaboration, we will accelerate the transition toward a greener and smarter steel industry.
Prof. Dr. Yanbing Zong
Guest Editor
Manuscript Submission Information
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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.
Keywords
- low-carbon metallurgy
- intelligent metallurgy
- BF-BOF route
- DRI-EAF route
- process optimization
- artificial intelligence (AI)
- machine learning
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