Ferrous products obtained by direct reduction of iron ore and other spongy ferrous products, in lumps, pellets or similar forms; iron having a minimum purity by weight of 99.94%, in lumps, pellets or similar forms

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR applies to factory-gate production of direct-reduced iron (DRI), other sponge-iron products, hot-briquetted iron (HBI), and iron of at least 99.94% purity by mass when supplied in lump, pellet, briquette, or a physically equivalent primary form. It supports one product dataset for one declared product family, form, production route, purity, metallization state, carbon content, and delivery temperature.

The product boundary is the unwrought ferrous intermediate ready for dispatch from the producing works. Iron-ore mining and beneficiation, purchased pellet or lump production, purchased reductant and electricity production, and inbound transport are represented by linked upstream datasets. Downstream melting into steel, alloying, casting, rolling, fabrication, use, and end-of-life are excluded. Granules and powders, pig iron, spiegeleisen, steel scrap, crude steel, and finished steel products are excluded.

DRI is iron ore reduced to iron without melting; gas-, coal-, and hydrogen-based routes are kept distinct. For high-purity iron, the dataset must declare whether the route is electrolytic, direct-reduction followed by melting separation and slag refining, or another documented purification route. The inventory below provides atomic rows for the verified common routes and requires any additional route-specific exchange to be added as one concrete flow.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.metal-products-machinery-and-equipment.basic-metals.ferrous-products-obtained-by-direct-reduction-of-iron-ore-and-other-spongy-ferrous-prod-40b371aa
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 41116 (exact classification context)
covered_products	DRI pellets; DRI lumps; other sponge-iron primary forms; HBI; iron with purity by mass of at least 99.94% in lump, pellet, or similar primary form
excluded_products	iron or steel granules and powders; pig iron; spiegeleisen; scrap; crude steel; cast, rolled, forged, or fabricated steel products; downstream steel made from DRI or high-purity iron
representative_product	direct-reduced iron pellets, at producing-works gate
production_route	declared gas-based, coal-based, hydrogen-based, electrolytic, or direct-reduction/melting-separation/refining route; mixed routes reported separately or production-mass weighted
market_state	unwrought dry bulk ferrous intermediate, cold or hot as declared, in a declared lump, pellet, briquette, or similar primary form

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	provision of an unwrought ferrous intermediate meeting the declared DRI, sponge-iron, HBI, or high-purity-iron specification
How much	1,000 kg net dry product mass
How well	declared product family and form; total iron; metallic iron or metallization; iron purity where applicable; carbon; gangue; moisture; size distribution; delivery temperature
How long or cycle	one production reporting period ending when the product is ready for dispatch at the producing-works gate
reference_flow_link	dr_dri_pellets

Field	Value
Reference amount	1,000 kg net dry mass
Reference product flow	Direct-reduced iron pellets
Reference flow property	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66
Reference unit group	Units of mass 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit	kg
Required qualifiers	product_family; physical_form; production_route; total_iron_mass_fraction; metallic_iron_or_metallization; iron_purity_mass_fraction_if_applicable; carbon_mass_fraction; gangue_mass_fraction; moisture_mass_fraction; size_distribution; cold_or_hot_delivery_state; delivery_temperature_if_hot; site; geography; reporting_period

When constructing a foreground data package, the items listed in Required qualifiers must be declared in dataset metadata, process notes, reference flow comment, product description, or an equivalent data package field. Missing required qualifiers make the reference flow definition incomplete for that data package.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
reference_dry_mass	reference product and all mass-normalized exchanges	Mass	kg	Normalize to 1,000 kg net dry reference product. Record gross mass and measured moisture separately and do not count free water as product mass.
gas_mass_conversion	natural gas, hydrogen, oxygen, and measured off-gas inputs or outputs	Mass	kg	Preserve the original standard volume, reference temperature, reference pressure, composition, and density factor, then convert to mass for the normalized inventory.
energy_preservation	electricity and fuels	Energy or fuel mass	kWh, MJ, or kg	Preserve metered electricity in kWh and each fuel in its measured unit; disclose net/gross calorific basis for any energy conversion and never aggregate unlike carriers before normalization.
product_quality_basis	DRI, HBI, sponge iron, and high-purity iron	Mass fraction	kg/kg or % by mass	Report each quality result on its laboratory basis and disclose whether metallic iron, total iron, metallization, purity, carbon, gangue, and moisture are wet- or dry-basis measurements.

5. System Boundary

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	measured receipt at the producing works of iron-ore pellet, iron-ore lump, magnetite concentrate, DRI precursor, or purified ferrous electrolyte, together with each purchased reductant, energy carrier, water, oxygen, and refining material
starting_condition_role	gate-to-gate foreground start; upstream burdens are linked through supplier-specific or representative datasets
product_classification_scope	one declared DRI, sponge-iron, HBI, or at-least-99.94%-pure iron product in a declared primary form
recursive_input_rule	an externally supplied DRI or other product covered by this PCR is an input product flow with its own upstream dataset and is not recursively recreated inside the receiving process
upstream_dataset_requirement	supplier-specific datasets are preferred for iron-bearing feed, reductants, electricity, oxygen, water, and refining materials; otherwise use geographically and technologically representative secondary datasets and disclose substitutions
disclosure	declare route, included unit processes, feed form, reductant, on-site gas generation, CCUS, internal gas recycling, briquetting, purification route, product form and quality, delivery state, site, geography, reporting period, upstream dataset choices, and exclusions

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
boundary_gate_to_gate	foreground production chain	Include every on-site unit operation from receipt of the declared starting materials through reduction or purification, product forming, pollution control, internal transport, wastewater treatment, and release of the dispatch-ready product.	worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017
boundary_upstream_links	purchased inputs	Link upstream production and inbound transport for iron-bearing feed, reductants, electricity, fuels, oxygen, water, and refining materials; do not duplicate their upstream burdens in foreground exchanges.	worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017
boundary_route_separation	technology and product routes	Keep gas-based, coal-based, hydrogen-based, electrolytic, and melting-separation/refining routes separate unless a production-mass-weighted average and its calculation are disclosed.	iea-iron-steel-roadmap-2020; worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017
boundary_downstream_exclusion	product gate	Exclude downstream steelmaking, alloying, casting, rolling, fabrication, use, and end-of-life from this product dataset.	unsd-cpc-30-2025; doe-green-hydrogen-iron-2018

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
direct_reduction	Direct reduction and product cooling	conditional	Include when producing DRI or sponge iron, or when DRI is an on-site precursor to high-purity iron.	reduction of iron oxide without melting, plus cooling and gas/water treatment	1,000 kg dry DRI or sponge-iron output
hot_briquetting	Hot briquetting and cooling	conditional	Include when hot DRI is compacted into HBI or an equivalent briquetted primary form.	densification and dispatch conditioning	1,000 kg dry HBI output
purity_refining	High-purity iron production and forming	conditional	Include when the reference product is iron of at least 99.94% purity; select only rows applicable to the declared electrolytic or metallurgical purification route.	purification, separation/refining, and forming into lump or pellet form	1,000 kg dry high-purity iron output

Process: Direct reduction and product cooling (direct_reduction)

Inputs

Product flows

Direct-reduction-grade iron ore pellets (dr_iron_ore_pellets)

Record purchased or transferred oxide pellets entering a shaft, rotary-kiln, or other direct-reduction reactor; use only when pellet feed is used.

• Selected flow: Direct-reduction-grade iron ore pellets
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured dry pellet feed crossing the process boundary
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry direct-reduced product output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_dr_materials
• Sources: doe-green-hydrogen-iron-2018

Direct-reduction-grade iron ore lump (dr_iron_ore_lump)

Record sized lump ore entering the reduction reactor; use only when lump feed is used and keep it separate from pellets.

• Selected flow: lump ore 7ed38ce9-37f3-4957-89d2-153b63e127dd
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured dry lump-ore feed crossing the process boundary
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry direct-reduced product output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_dr_materials
• Sources: unsd-cpc-30-2025

Natural gas (dr_natural_gas)

Record natural gas purchased for reducing-gas generation or direct process fuel; use only for a gas-consuming route.

• Selected flow: natural gas in the gaseous state 4f19ca0e-7b3b-11dd-ad8b-0800200c9a66
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: metered natural gas attributed to the direct-reduction process
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry direct-reduced product output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_dr_energy
• Sources: doe-green-hydrogen-iron-2018; iea-iron-steel-roadmap-2020

Hydrogen (dr_hydrogen)

Record externally supplied or separately metered on-site hydrogen entering the reduction loop; use only for hydrogen-containing routes and do not count internally recycled hydrogen twice.

• Selected flow: Hydrogen
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net hydrogen make-up crossing the direct-reduction boundary
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry direct-reduced product output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_dr_energy
• Sources: doe-green-hydrogen-iron-2018; iea-iron-steel-roadmap-2020

Non-coking coal (dr_non_coking_coal)

Record non-coking coal fed as reductant or process fuel; use only for a coal-based direct-reduction route.

• Selected flow: Non-coking coal
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured dry coal feed attributed to direct reduction
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry direct-reduced product output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_dr_energy
• Sources: iea-iron-steel-roadmap-2020

Oxygen (dr_oxygen)

Record purchased oxygen entering reforming, partial oxidation, heating, or other direct-reduction operations; use only when it crosses the site boundary.

• Selected flow: Industrial oxygen bd4b0f96-2090-4806-a648-335ab20ff401
• Flow property / unit: Volume / m3
• Amount rule: measured oxygen delivered to the direct-reduction process
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry direct-reduced product output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_dr_materials
• Sources: worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017

Electricity (dr_electricity)

Record metered electricity for ore handling, gas compression, reactor auxiliaries, cooling, screening, dedusting, and treatment within this process boundary.

• Selected flow: Alternating current
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value / MJ
• Amount rule: metered or submeter-allocated electricity consumed by direct reduction and product cooling
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry direct-reduced product output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_dr_energy
• Sources: worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017

Process water (dr_process_water)

Record make-up water entering gas scrubbing, cooling, dust control, or other direct-reduction operations; do not include internally recycled water.

• Selected flow: Process Water 94a04f7e-2d5c-41f0-b182-d54a3b373a02
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net make-up water crossing the direct-reduction boundary
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry direct-reduced product output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_dr_water
• Sources: doe-green-hydrogen-iron-2018

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Direct-reduced iron pellets (dr_dri_pellets)

Record saleable DRI retaining pellet form; this is the representative reference-product row and applies only when pellets are the declared product.

• Selected flow: Direct-reduced iron pellets
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net dry mass of conforming pellet product ready for dispatch
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: 1,000 kg dry reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_dr_products
• Sources: unsd-cpc-30-2025; doe-green-hydrogen-iron-2018

Direct-reduced iron lumps (dr_dri_lumps)

Record saleable DRI or sponge iron in lump form; use only when lump is the declared product.

• Selected flow: Direct-reduced iron lumps
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net dry mass of conforming lump product ready for dispatch
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: 1,000 kg dry reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_dr_products
• Sources: unsd-cpc-30-2025; doe-green-hydrogen-iron-2018

Waste flows

Direct-reduction wastewater (dr_wastewater)

Record net wastewater transferred from reduction-gas scrubbing, cooling, or other direct-reduction operations to treatment or discharge.

• Selected flow: Direct-reduction wastewater
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net wastewater leaving the process before downstream treatment
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry direct-reduced product output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_dr_wastes
• Sources: worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017

Direct-reduced iron fines for disposal (dr_dri_fines)

Record off-specification DRI fines sent to disposal; recovered fines returned to production remain internal and are disclosed separately.

• Selected flow: Direct-reduced iron fines for disposal
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured dry mass of DRI fines leaving as waste
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry direct-reduced product output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_dr_wastes
• Sources: worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017

Elementary flows

Carbon dioxide to air (dr_carbon_dioxide)

Record measured or balanced direct carbon dioxide released from reduction, reforming, combustion, venting, and flaring after subtracting captured carbon dioxide.

• Selected flow: carbon dioxide (fossil) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-923d-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: monitored direct release plus validated balance estimates, net of captured carbon dioxide
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry direct-reduced product output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_dr_air
• Sources: worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017

Carbon monoxide to air (dr_carbon_monoxide)

Record direct carbon monoxide released after control from the direct-reduction process.

• Selected flow: carbon monoxide (fossil) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-924e-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: monitored or mass-balance-derived carbon monoxide released to air
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry direct-reduced product output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_dr_air
• Sources: worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017

Particulate matter to air (dr_particulate_matter)

Record total particulate matter released after control from ore handling, reduction, cooling, screening, and dust collection.

• Selected flow: Particulate matter, particle size unspecified 0ce3dedb-caca-407b-a856-a90470eb8ec0
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: monitored stack release plus documented fugitive estimate
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry direct-reduced product output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_dr_air
• Sources: worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017

Process: Hot briquetting and cooling (hot_briquetting)

Inputs

Product flows

Hot direct-reduced iron (hb_hot_dri)

Record hot DRI transferred into the briquetting press; apply only when HBI is produced and avoid duplicating the upstream DRI burden.

• Selected flow: Hot direct-reduced iron
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured dry hot DRI feed to briquetting
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry HBI output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_hb_materials
• Sources: midrex-forms-of-dri

Electricity (hb_electricity)

Record metered electricity consumed by briquetting, conveying, cooling, screening, and dedusting equipment.

• Selected flow: Alternating current
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value / MJ
• Amount rule: metered or submeter-allocated electricity consumed by hot briquetting and cooling
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry HBI output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_hb_energy_water
• Sources: worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017

Cooling water (hb_cooling_water)

Record net make-up water used to cool HBI; do not count recirculated water as a new input.

• Selected flow: Cooling water df413bba-3c03-412b-a80a-c6082b6b9b33
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net cooling-water make-up crossing the process boundary
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry HBI output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_hb_energy_water
• Sources: worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Hot-briquetted iron (hb_hbi)

Record conforming HBI ready for dispatch; use only when briquette is the declared product form.

• Selected flow: Hot-briquetted iron
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net dry mass of conforming HBI ready for dispatch
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: 1,000 kg dry reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_hb_products_wastes
• Sources: midrex-forms-of-dri; unsd-cpc-30-2025

Waste flows

Briquetting DRI fines for disposal (hb_dri_fines)

Record DRI or HBI fines sent to disposal after briquetting and screening.

• Selected flow: Briquetting DRI fines for disposal
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured dry mass of fines leaving the briquetting process as waste
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry HBI output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_hb_products_wastes
• Sources: worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017

Elementary flows

Particulate matter to air (hb_particulate_matter)

Record particulate matter released after control from hot briquetting, conveying, cooling, and screening.

• Selected flow: Particulate matter, particle size unspecified 0ce3dedb-caca-407b-a856-a90470eb8ec0
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: monitored stack release plus documented fugitive estimate
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry HBI output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_hb_air
• Sources: worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017

Process: High-purity iron production and forming (purity_refining)

Inputs

Product flows

Direct-reduced iron precursor (pr_dri_precursor)

Record DRI entering melting separation and slag refining; use only for the declared direct-reduction/refining route.

• Selected flow: Direct-reduced iron precursor
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured dry DRI feed entering melting separation
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry high-purity iron output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_pr_materials
• Sources: li-high-purity-iron-2020

Iron(II) chloride solution (pr_iron_chloride_solution)

Record purified iron(II) chloride electrolyte entering electrolytic iron production; use only when this electrolyte is used.

• Selected flow: Iron(II) chloride solution
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net fresh iron(II) chloride solution make-up
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry high-purity iron output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_pr_materials
• Sources: zhang-electrolytic-iron-2025

Iron(II) sulfate solution (pr_iron_sulfate_solution)

Record purified iron(II) sulfate electrolyte entering electrolytic iron production; use only when this electrolyte is used.

• Selected flow: Iron(II) sulfate solution
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net fresh iron(II) sulfate solution make-up
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry high-purity iron output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_pr_materials
• Sources: zhang-electrolytic-iron-2025

High-basicity calcium oxide-aluminium oxide refining slag (pr_high_basicity_slag)

Record prepared high-basicity refining slag entering deoxidation/refining; use only for the declared slag-refining route and disclose its composition.

• Selected flow: High-basicity calcium oxide-aluminium oxide refining slag
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured dry refining-slag charge
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry high-purity iron output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_pr_materials
• Sources: li-high-purity-iron-2020

Electricity (pr_electricity)

Record metered electricity for electrolysis, melting, refining, vacuum treatment, forming, cooling, and pollution control within the declared route.

• Selected flow: Alternating current
• Flow property / unit: Net calorific value / MJ
• Amount rule: metered or submeter-allocated electricity consumed by high-purity iron production and forming
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry high-purity iron output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_pr_energy_water
• Sources: li-high-purity-iron-2020; zhang-electrolytic-iron-2025; worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017

Process water (pr_process_water)

Record net make-up water used in electrolyte preparation, washing, cooling, or pollution control for the declared high-purity route.

• Selected flow: Process Water 94a04f7e-2d5c-41f0-b182-d54a3b373a02
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net make-up water crossing the high-purity process boundary
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry high-purity iron output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_pr_energy_water
• Sources: li-high-purity-iron-2020; zhang-electrolytic-iron-2025

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

High-purity iron lumps (pr_high_purity_iron_lump)

Record conforming iron of at least 99.94% purity by mass in lump form; use only when lump is the declared product.

• Selected flow: High-purity iron lumps, minimum 99.94% iron by mass
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net dry mass of conforming high-purity iron lumps ready for dispatch
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: 1,000 kg dry reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_pr_products
• Sources: unsd-cpc-30-2025; china-mof-tariff-2019; li-high-purity-iron-2020; zhang-electrolytic-iron-2025

High-purity iron pellets (pr_high_purity_iron_pellet)

Record conforming iron of at least 99.94% purity by mass in pellet form; use only when pellet is the declared product.

• Selected flow: High-purity iron pellets, minimum 99.94% iron by mass
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net dry mass of conforming high-purity iron pellets ready for dispatch
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: 1,000 kg dry reference product
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_pr_products
• Sources: unsd-cpc-30-2025; china-mof-tariff-2019; li-high-purity-iron-2020; zhang-electrolytic-iron-2025

Waste flows

Spent ferrous electrolyte (pr_spent_electrolyte)

Record spent iron-bearing electrolyte transferred to recovery or treatment; use only for an electrolytic route.

• Selected flow: Spent ferrous electrolyte
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured net spent electrolyte leaving high-purity iron production
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry high-purity iron output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_pr_wastes
• Sources: zhang-electrolytic-iron-2025

Spent high-basicity refining slag (pr_refining_slag)

Record spent refining slag transferred to recovery or disposal; use only for a melting-separation/slag-refining route.

• Selected flow: Spent high-basicity refining slag
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured dry spent refining slag leaving the process
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry high-purity iron output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_pr_wastes
• Sources: li-high-purity-iron-2020

Elementary flows

Particulate matter to air (pr_particulate_matter)

Record particulate matter released after control from material handling, melting, refining, and product forming.

• Selected flow: Particulate matter, particle size unspecified 0ce3dedb-caca-407b-a856-a90470eb8ec0
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: monitored stack release plus documented fugitive estimate
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per 1,000 kg dry high-purity iron output
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_pr_air
• Sources: worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
allocation_subdivide_first	route unit operations and separately metered products	Avoid allocation by subdividing reduction, briquetting, purification, gas generation, wastewater treatment, and recovery operations wherever their inputs and outputs are independently measured.	worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017
allocation_internal_recycling	recycled top gas, water, DRI fines, slag, and electrolyte	Treat internal recycling as an internal loop: count only net make-up inputs and net releases across the foreground boundary and do not create a credit for internal circulation.	worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017
allocation_exported_coproduct	exported process gas, captured carbon dioxide, recovered fines, slag, or other marketable co-product	Use system expansion only when the substituted product, equivalent function, market, and avoided production dataset are documented; report the substitution credit separately. Otherwise report an unallocated inventory and an explicit sensitivity case.	worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017
allocation_multiple_products	simultaneous saleable DRI, HBI, or high-purity iron outputs	Prefer separate campaigns or measured process subdivision. If inseparable, allocate residual shared burdens by dry product mass and disclose product-specific sensitivity to an economic allocation.	worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017

8. Foreground Data Collection, Calculation, and Quality Rules

Data Collection Protocols

protocol_id	process_id	flow_role	record_type	raw_fields	collection_method	unit	frequency	temporal_coverage	site_scope	aggregation_rule	quality_evidence
cp_dr_materials	direct_reduction	iron-bearing feed, oxygen, and reductant materials	weighbridge, feeder, inventory, and supplier records	timestamp; material_id; wet_mass; moisture; composition; standard_volume_if_gas; temperature; pressure	reconcile calibrated meters and stock changes by campaign	kg; Nm3 where originally metered	batch and monthly	representative 12 months; shorter period justified	all direct-reduction units and shared supply systems	dry mass or gas mass allocated from direct meters; shared meters allocated by documented operating driver	calibration, supplier certificate, stock reconciliation, composition and moisture test
cp_dr_energy	direct_reduction	natural gas, hydrogen, coal, and electricity	custody meter, submeter, fuel issue, and stock records	timestamp; carrier; quantity; unit; calorific_basis; gas_composition; meter_id; process_id	reconcile purchases, generation, exports, and stock changes	kWh; MJ; kg; Nm3	continuous or batch; monthly reconciliation	representative 12 months	direct-reduction reactor, reformer, compressors, cooling, screening, and controls	net imported carrier per reporting period, with internal gas recycling excluded	meter calibration, invoices, gas analysis, stock reconciliation
cp_dr_water	direct_reduction	process-water make-up	water meter and balance records	timestamp; source; make_up_volume; density; recycled_volume; discharge_volume	meter net make-up and reconcile circuit balance	kg; m3	continuous; monthly reconciliation	representative 12 months	gas scrubbing, cooling, dedusting, and direct-reduction treatment	net make-up mass per reporting period	meter calibration and water-balance closure
cp_dr_products	direct_reduction	DRI pellet and lump outputs	certified scale, dispatch, and laboratory records	batch_id; gross_mass; moisture; form; total_iron; metallic_iron; metallization; carbon; gangue; size; temperature	sum conforming dispatch mass and convert to dry mass	kg	batch	representative 12 months	all product discharge and dispatch points	separate product forms and off-specification material before normalization	scale calibration, certificate of analysis, moisture and size test
cp_dr_wastes	direct_reduction	wastewater and disposed DRI fines	transfer meter, scale, manifest, and treatment records	timestamp; waste_id; mass_or_volume; solids; moisture; destination; recovery_status	reconcile transfers with internal returns and treatment receipts	kg; m3	batch or continuous; monthly	representative 12 months	all direct-reduction waste exits	net external waste transfer by atomic waste flow	calibrated meter or scale, waste manifest, treatment receipt
cp_dr_air	direct_reduction	carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, and particulate matter	continuous emissions monitor, stack test, fuel/gas composition, flare, capture, and production records	source_id; pollutant; concentration; flow_rate; duration; fuel_carbon; vented_gas; captured_co2	integrate monitors; fill approved gaps with documented mass balance	kg; mg/Nm3; Nm3	continuous and required stack-test interval	representative 12 months including normal maintenance	all stacks, vents, flares, and quantified fugitives	sum releases by pollutant; subtract verified capture; normalize by dry output	monitor calibration, stack-test report, carbon and gas balance
cp_hb_materials	hot_briquetting	hot DRI feed	transfer scale and temperature records	timestamp; wet_mass; moisture; temperature; transfer_origin	reconcile hot DRI transfer with briquette output and fines	kg	batch or continuous	representative 12 months	all HBI lines	dry feed mass by line and campaign	scale calibration, moisture and temperature records
cp_hb_energy_water	hot_briquetting	electricity and cooling-water make-up	submeter and water-meter records	timestamp; electricity; make_up_water; recycled_water; meter_id	meter line consumption and reconcile shared services	kWh; kg; m3	continuous; monthly	representative 12 months	pressing, conveying, cooling, screening, and controls	net electricity and water make-up by line	meter calibration and utility balance
cp_hb_products_wastes	hot_briquetting	HBI output and disposed fines	certified scale, dispatch, laboratory, and waste records	batch_id; product_mass; moisture; density; size; fines_mass; destination	separate conforming HBI, internally returned fines, and external waste	kg	batch	representative 12 months	all HBI lines and dispatch points	dry net output and external waste by campaign	scale calibration, product certificate, waste manifest
cp_hb_air	hot_briquetting	particulate matter	stack test, dust-collector, operating-hour, and production records	source_id; concentration; flow_rate; duration; collector_status	integrate measured releases and document fugitive estimate	kg; mg/Nm3	stack-test interval; monthly estimate	representative 12 months	briquetting, cooling, screening, and transfer points	sum controlled and quantified fugitive releases	stack-test report and dust-collector maintenance record
cp_pr_materials	purity_refining	DRI precursor, electrolytes, and refining slag	batch scale, tank level, composition, and inventory records	batch_id; material_id; mass; concentration; composition; stock_change; route	reconcile fresh input, recovered internal material, and stock change	kg	batch and monthly	representative production campaign or 12 months	all purification, melting, and refining units	net fresh material input by atomic material and route	scale/tank calibration, assay, batch sheet, stock reconciliation
cp_pr_energy_water	purity_refining	electricity and process-water make-up	submeter and water-meter records	timestamp; unit_operation; electricity; make_up_water; recycled_water	meter route unit operations and reconcile shared services	kWh; kg; m3	continuous or batch; monthly	representative production campaign or 12 months	electrolysis, melting, refining, forming, cooling, and controls	net electricity and water make-up by declared route	meter calibration and utility balance
cp_pr_products	purity_refining	high-purity iron output	certified scale, assay, dispatch, and form records	batch_id; mass; moisture; iron_purity; impurity_panel; form; size; temperature	sum conforming product separately by form and purity grade	kg	batch	all campaigns in reporting period	all final forming and dispatch points	dry net conforming output by product form	scale calibration, certificate of analysis, impurity detection limits
cp_pr_wastes	purity_refining	spent electrolyte and spent refining slag	tank transfer, scale, waste manifest, and recovery records	batch_id; waste_id; mass; concentration; moisture; destination; recovery_status	measure net external transfer after internal recovery	kg	batch and monthly	all campaigns in reporting period	all purification and refining waste exits	aggregate each atomic waste separately by route	meter/scale calibration, assay, waste manifest, treatment receipt
cp_pr_air	purity_refining	particulate matter	stack test, dust-collector, operating-hour, and production records	source_id; concentration; flow_rate; duration; collector_status	integrate measured releases and document fugitive estimate	kg; mg/Nm3	stack-test interval; monthly estimate	all campaigns in reporting period	melting, refining, forming, and material handling	sum controlled and quantified fugitive releases	stack-test report and dust-collector maintenance record

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
calc_dry_mass_normalization	mass inputs and outputs	normalized amount = net measured dry amount / net dry reference-product mass × 1,000 kg	gross mass; moisture; stock change; internal return; dry reference-product mass	kg per 1,000 kg dry reference product	worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017
calc_energy_normalization	electricity and fuel	normalized amount = net carrier consumed / net dry reference-product mass × 1,000 kg; preserve carrier-specific units and conversion basis	meter readings; imports; exports; stock change; calorific basis; dry reference-product mass	kWh, MJ, or kg per 1,000 kg dry reference product	worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017
calc_gas_mass	natural gas, hydrogen, oxygen, and measured gases	gas mass = corrected standard volume × verified density from measured composition and declared reference conditions	volume; temperature; pressure; composition; reference conditions; density	kg gas	doe-green-hydrogen-iron-2018
calc_route_weighting	multi-site or multi-route dataset	weighted exchange = sum(route exchange × conforming dry route output) / sum(conforming dry output); retain separate route results in supporting data	route-specific normalized exchange; dry product output; product form and quality	production-mass-weighted exchange	worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017
calc_direct_air_release	direct air emissions	release = integrated monitored release + justified gap estimate + vent and flare release - verified capture; do not subtract biogenic or upstream credits here	concentration; gas flow; time; composition; vent/flare records; capture records	kg pollutant per reporting period and per 1,000 kg product	worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017
calc_balance_checks	process validation	close total mass, iron, and carbon balances for each applicable process; report residuals and explain material deviations	all measured inputs, outputs, stock changes, recycled flows, iron assays, carbon assays	mass-, iron-, and carbon-balance residuals	worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_identity	reference product	Product family, form, route, purity/metallization, carbon, gangue, moisture, size, and hot/cold delivery state shall identify one saleable product.	dispatch specification and certificate of analysis
dq_technology	route inventory	Unit operations, reductant, gas generation, internal recycling, CCUS, briquetting, purification, and treatment shall match the declared route; mixed routes shall remain traceable.	process-flow diagram, meter map, and route ledger
dq_temporal	foreground records	Prefer 12 consecutive representative months. A shorter period shall cover the full operating pattern and be justified.	dated production, utility, maintenance, and laboratory records
dq_geography	upstream links	Electricity and other material datasets shall represent the actual supplier or production region and technology where material.	supplier identity, grid contract, and dataset metadata
dq_completeness	all processes	Include all energetic inputs and all known material, waste, water, and emission flows; document exclusions and their mass, energy, and environmental relevance.	completeness checklist, meter reconciliation, and exclusion register
dq_measurement	measured and calculated values	Retain calibration status, raw units, conversions, allocation keys, uncertainty, detection limits, and data-gap treatment so results are reproducible.	calibration certificates, calculation workbook, QA review

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
validation_reference_flow	reference product	Confirm that the normalized output equals 1,000 kg net dry mass and that all required qualifiers are present and mutually consistent.	worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017
validation_route_rows	process inventory	Confirm that every included row belongs to the declared route, every applicable atomic exchange is present, and non-applicable alternative rows are absent rather than zero-filled.	iea-iron-steel-roadmap-2020; li-high-purity-iron-2020
validation_balances	direct reduction, briquetting, and purity refining	Perform total mass and iron balances for every included process and a carbon balance for carbon-bearing routes; investigate and disclose residuals.	worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017
validation_no_double_counting	internal loops and upstream data	Verify that recycled top gas, water, DRI fines, slag, and electrolyte are not counted as both internal circulation and purchased inputs, and that upstream burdens appear once.	worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017
validation_emissions	releases and capture	Reconcile monitored emissions with fuel, gas, carbon, vent, flare, pollution-control, and capture records and report below-detection-limit treatment.	worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017
validation_purity	high-purity iron product	Verify iron purity by mass is at least 99.94% using a documented analytical method and impurity panel; a DRI metallization result is not a substitute for iron-purity conformance.	unsd-cpc-30-2025; china-mof-tariff-2019; li-high-purity-iron-2020

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	secondary_dataset or background_dataset derived from verified foreground production records
downstream_use	upstream iron-bearing intermediate for steelmaking, alloy production, foundry, or other declared product systems; lifecyclemodel projection with route-specific upstream links
allowed_use	modelling the declared product family, form, route, quality, site/geography, technology, and reporting period at the producing-works gate
excluded_use	representing downstream crude or finished steel; substituting DRI for high-purity iron or one route for another without documented equivalence; public comparative assertions without a study-specific functional unit and review
required_metadata	PCR id and version; product family and form; route and unit operations; total iron; metallic iron/metallization or iron purity; carbon; gangue; moisture; size; delivery state/temperature; site; geography; reporting period; allocation; cut-offs; upstream datasets; data quality and uncertainty
required_quality_disclosure	foreground/secondary split; meter and assay coverage; missing-data treatment; mass/iron/carbon balance residuals; route weighting; allocation and substitution choices; exclusions; unresolved UUIDs and range-evidence status
update_trigger	material change in feed, reductant, electricity, purification route, CCUS, gas recycling, briquetting, product form or quality, allocation, site mix, upstream datasets, or reporting data older than the programme's accepted representativeness period

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
unsd-cpc-30-2025	official_guidance	United Nations Statistics Division, CPC Version 3.0 Structure, 30 June 2025, https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ/Download/In%20Text/CPC_Ver_3.0_Structure_30Jun2025.csv (retrieved 2026-09-02)	official product identity, forms, and 99.94% purity threshold
china-mof-tariff-2019	official_guidance	Ministry of Finance of the People's Republic of China, 2019 tariff implementation plan, lines 72031000 and 72039000, https://m.mof.gov.cn/czxw/201812/P020181226472875236412.pdf (retrieved 2026-09-02)	verified professional Chinese terminology for directly reduced iron products, sponge iron, and the 99.94% purity threshold
doe-green-hydrogen-iron-2018	official_guidance	Ed Green, The Use of Hydrogen in the Iron and Steel Industry, U.S. Department of Energy H2@Scale Workshop, 1 August 2018, https://www.energy.gov/sites/default/files/2018/08/f54/fcto-h2-scale-kickoff-2018-19-green.pdf (retrieved 2026-09-02)	DRI definition, reduction without melting, hydrogen and carbon-monoxide reduction chemistry, and the natural-gas DRI route
iea-iron-steel-roadmap-2020	official_guidance	International Energy Agency, Iron and Steel Technology Roadmap, 2020, https://www.iea.org/reports/iron-and-steel-technology-roadmap (retrieved 2026-09-02)	separation of gas-, coal-, blended-hydrogen-, and 100% hydrogen-based DRI technology routes
worldsteel-lci-methodology-2017	handbook	World Steel Association, Life Cycle Inventory Methodology Report for Steel Products, 2017, ISBN 978-2-930069-89-0, https://worldsteel.org/media/publications/lci-report-2017-pdf/?do_download_id=7f96813a-3756-4842-8dbc-38ce201f2914 (retrieved 2026-09-02)	declared mass unit, gate-to-gate and upstream boundaries, technology/geographic/temporal coverage, data collection, emissions, completeness, validation balances, and co-product handling
midrex-forms-of-dri	extension_guidance	Midrex Technologies, Inc., Forms of DRI, https://www.midrex.com/direct-reduced-iron/forms-of-dri/ (retrieved 2026-09-03)	CDRI, HDRI, and HBI market forms; hot DRI transfer; binder-free hot briquetting and dispatch state
li-high-purity-iron-2020	literature	Li, B.; Sun, G.; Li, S.; Guo, H.; Guo, J. The Preparation of High-Purity Iron (99.987%) Employing a Process of Direct Reduction-Melting Separation-Slag Refining. Materials 13(8), 1839 (2020). https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13081839	high-purity-iron route alternatives and verified direct-reduction, melting-separation, slag-refining, and electrolytic process decomposition
zhang-electrolytic-iron-2025	literature	Zhang, D.; Liu, T.; Xie, G.; Wang, B.; Cao, X.; Bai, J.; Zhong, M.; Dong, H. The Effect of Electrolytic Temperature on the Purity of Electrolytic Pure Iron. Metals 15(9), 1055 (2025). https://doi.org/10.3390/met15091055	ferrous-chloride and ferrous-sulfate electrolyte route evidence, electricity-driven electrodeposition, and high-purity-iron quality control