The effect of a H2/CO mixture at varying ratios on the diesel particulate filter regeneration process: Towards an optimised fuel reformer design – Diesel engine aftertreatment system

The work described in this paper aims to assist in the development of an exhaust gas fuel reformer for the enhancement of diesel particulate filter (DPF) aftertreatment performance. This was achieved by introducing H₂ and CO at various mixture ratios at a concentration of 6% (v/v) to a standardised DPF regeneration process in order to identify an optimised mixture ratio. In addition to this, emission measurements were performed pre and post filter to identify the impact of the additional mixtures on various emission components. A mixture ratio of 60% H₂ balanced with CO was identified as the optimised mixture ratio. This was due to this configuration demonstrating one of the most proficient regeneration profiles at a relatively low mean filter temperature of approximately 630 °C. Further to this, it was also noted that the addition of H₂ or H₂ and CO to the regeneration process resulted in an increase in NOx post filter while total hydrocarbons were reduced. Furthermore, the H₂/CO mixture addition resulted in an increase in CO₂ post filter, the levels of which were proportional to the volume of CO contained within the introduced mixture.     

Diesel particulate filter (DPF) regeneration using non-thermal plasma induced by dielectric barrier discharge

Based on indirect non-thermal plasma (NTP) technology, an experimental study of diesel particulate filter (DPF) regeneration was implemented by a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) reactor with different O₂ flow rate strategies. Carbon deposition characteristics and parameters of the NTP injection system were discussed to facilitate further data analysis and calculation. DPF regeneration was then investigated by comparison analysis of deposit removal mass and backpressure variation. The physicochemical properties of deposit before and after NTP treatment were studied by thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results revealed that O₃ concentration decreased with the increase of O₂ flow rate, and the total output of O₃ presented a completely inverse trend when the O₂ flow rate was less than 10 L/min. Deposit removal mass and backpressure drop peaked at an O₂ flow rate of 10 L/min. Higher O₃ output contributed to a better regeneration effect at a higher O₂ flow rate. The soluble organic fraction (SOF) in the deposit obviously reduced after DPF regeneration. NTP treatment enhanced the oxidative activity of particulate matter (PM) both in SOF and dry soot (DS), which could accelerate the PM oxidation later. The results demonstrated effective DPF regeneration using a DBD-type NTP reactor with oxygen source, and the favorable PM oxidation effect was obtained after NTP treatment.     

Effect of hydrogen addition to intake gas on combustion and exhaust emission characteristics of a diesel engine

The present study experimentally investigated the performance and emission characteristics of the diesel engine with hydrogen added to the intake air at late diesel-fuel injection timings. The diesel-fuel injection timing and the hydrogen fraction in the intake mixture were varied while the available heat produced by diesel-fuel and hydrogen per second of diesel fuel and hydrogen was kept constant at a certain value. NO showed minimum at specific hydrogen fraction. The maximum rate of incylinder pressure rise also showed minimum at 10 vol. % hydrogen fraction. However, it is desirable to set the maximum rate of incylinder pressure rise less than 0.5 MPa/deg. to realize low level of combustion noise and NO emission. We attempt to reduce further NO and smoke emissions by EGR. As the result, in the case of the diesel-fuel injection timing of −2 °. ATDC with 3.9 vol. % hydrogen addition, the smoke emission value was 0%, NO emission was low, the cyclic variation was low, and the maximum rate of incylinder pressure rise was acceptable under a nearly stoichiometric condition without sacrificing indicated thermal efficiency.     

Emissions of a diesel engine using B20 and effects of hydrogen addition

The blended biodiesel with up to 20% biodiesel in petroleum diesel (B20) is considered nowadays as available in production. Previous studies investigating the effect of B20 on engine emissions led to some contradictory results. The present study continued the investigation on B20, 20% biodiesel (rapeseed methyl esters) blend effects and was also extended on B20 enriched with hydrogen. It was conducted on a conventional tractor diesel engine running alternatively with B20 and petroleum diesel at various speeds and full load and then, with the same fuels enriched with hydrogen, at 60% load and two speeds.     

Kinetic interplay between hydrogen and carbon monoxide in syngas-fueled catalytic micro-combustors

The combined oxidation of hydrogen and carbon monoxide over platinum in micro-combustors at catalytic surface temperatures below 600 K was studied numerically, using a two-dimensional computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model with detailed heterogeneous and homogeneous reaction mechanisms and multicomponent transport. Simulations were performed at different surface temperatures and feed compositions to study the kinetic interplay between hydrogen and carbon monoxide. A sensitivity analysis of the heterogeneous reaction mechanism was performed to identify the rate-controlling steps. Finally, possible mechanisms for the observed behavior were discussed. It was shown that there is significant kinetic interplay between hydrogen and carbon monoxide. Carbon monoxide significantly inhibits the catalytic oxidation of hydrogen. In contrast, the presence of hydrogen was found to promote the catalytic oxidation of carbon monoxide, with the largest effect shown for the small addition of hydrogen, then this effect progressively decreases with the further increase of hydrogen concentration. Accordingly, the apparent reaction order with respect to hydrogen changes from positive to negative, then to zero. The promoting effect of hydrogen can be attributed to the carboxyl pathway, which is crucial to describe the process.     

Metal oxide hydrogen,oxygen, and carbon monoxide sensors for hydrogen setups and cells

Use of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon oxide semiconductor sensors made of metal oxides allows controlling electronically the content of these gases in operation of many hydrogen setups, cells and devices. Present review-paper gives a general idea of achievements in this field.     

Analysis of reformed EGR on the performance of a diesel particulate filter

The use of a diesel particulate filter (DPF) in combination with an upstream diesel oxidation catalyst (DOC) has been successfully implemented and shown to reduce carbon monoxide (CO), hydrocarbon (HC) and Particulate Matter (PM) diesel exhaust gas emissions. However issues including cost, size and uncontrolled active regeneration under a low temperature window still require attention. This study therefore primarily focuses on the potential benefits of using a single catalytic coated DPF (cDPF) and a combined DOC-cDPF instead of the DOC-DPF aftertreatment system utilising a passive, low temperature regeneration method. Comparisons were made through monitoring exhaust gas compositions from an experimental single cylinder diesel engine as well as measuring the pressure drop across the filters to analyse the accumulation of soot particles. The influence of reformed EGR (REGR), enriched simulated hydrogen (H₂) and CO, on DPF and cDPF soot loading was of interest as H₂ promotes the NO to NO₂ oxidation. Similarly the addition of simulated reformate (added either directly into the engine intake or exhaust manifold) for optimal performance of the aftertreatment systems was examined.The effects of adding REGR resulted in a significant decrease in total engine-out NO_x emissions, as well as an increase in both NO₂ concentration and NO₂/NO_x ratio. This resulted in improved filter efficiency and overall loading, especially under a DOC-cDPF aftertreatment configuration system. As a whole, a simultaneous NO_x and PM reduction was achieved.     

Synthesis of Pt nano catalyst in the presence of carbon monoxide: Superior activity towards hydrogen evolution reaction

The effect of carbon monoxide (CO) on the reduction of Pt ion to metallic Pt is studied. The modified GC electrode with platinum metal synthesized in the presence of CO shows excellent activity for hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Despite the decrease in the loading of platinum (4.5 × 10⁻⁴ mg cm⁻²) a substantial increase in its electrocatalytic activity towards HER is observed in a sulfuric acid environment. The observed electrocatalytic activity is comparable to available commercial catalysts like Pt/C. Tafel slope was obtained to be 34 mV.dec^−1, and the overpotential was acquired to be 31 mV at the mass activity of 10 mA mg⁻¹ were observed which was very close to kinetic parameters of Pt/C catalyst.     

Influence of hydrogen and various carbon monoxide concentrations on reduction behavior of iron oxide at low temperature

The aims of this study are to produce Fe₃O₄ from Fe₂O₃ using hydrogen (H₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) gases by focusing on the influence of these gases on reduction of Fe₂O₃ to Fe₃O₄ at low temperature (below 500 °C). Low reduction temperature behavior was investigated by using temperature programmed reduction (TPR) with the presence of 20% H₂/N₂, 10% CO/N₂, 20% CO/N₂ and 40% CO/N₂. The TPR results indicated that the first reduction peak of Fe₂O₃ at low temperature appeared faster in CO atmosphere compared to H₂. Furthermore, reducibility of first stage reduction could be improved when increasing CO concentration and reduction rate were followed the sequence as: 40% CO > 20% CO > 10% CO > 10% H₂. All reduction peaks were shifted to higher temperature when the CO concentration was reduced. Although, initial reduction by H₂ occurred slower (first peak appeared at higher temperature, 465 °C) compared to CO, however, it showed better reduction with Fe₂O₃ fully reduced to Fe at temperature below 800 °C. Meanwhile, complete reduction happened at temperature above 800 °C in 10% and 20% CO/N₂. Thermodynamic calculation revealed that CO acts as a better reducer than H₂ as the enthalpy change of reaction (ΔH_r) is more exothermic than H₂ and the change in Gibbs free energy (ΔG) at 500 °C is directed to more spontaneous reaction in converting Fe₂O₃ to Fe₃O₄. Therefore, formation of magnetite at low temperature was thermodynamically more favorable in CO compared to H₂ atmosphere. XRD analysis explained the formation of smaller crystallite size of magnetite by H₂ whereas reduction of CO concentration from 40, 20 to 10% enhanced the growth of highly crystalline magnetite (31.3, 35.5 and 39.9 nm respectively). All reductants were successfully transformed Fe₂O₃ → Fe₃O₄ at the first reduction peak except for 10% CO/N₂ as there was a weak crystalline peak due to remaining unreduced Fe₂O₃. Overall, less energy consumption needed in reducing Fe₂O₃ to Fe₃O₄ by CO. This proved that CO was enhanced the formation of magnetite, encouraged formation of highly crystalline magnetite in more concentrated CO, considered better reducing agent than H₂ and these are valid at lower temperature.     

Effect of hydrogen addition on RCCI combustion of a heavy duty diesel engine fueled with landfill gas and diesel oil

The aim of this study is to investigate the effects of hydrogen addition on RCCI combustion of an engine running on landfill gas and diesel oil. A single cylinder heavy– duty diesel engine is set in operation at 9.4 bar IMEP. A certain amount of diesel fuel per cycle is fed into the engine and hydrogen is added to landfill gas while keeping fixed fuel energy content. The developed simulation results confirm that hydrogen addition which is the most environmental friendly fuel causes the fuel consumption per any cycle to reduce. Also, the peak pressure is increased while the engine load is reduced up to 4%. Landfill gas which is enriched with hydrogen improves the rate of methane dissociation and reduces the combustion duration at the same time the engine operation would not be exposed to diesel knock. Moreover, hydrogen addition to landfill gas would reduce engine emissions considerably.     

Effect of hydroxy and hydrogen gas addition on diesel engine fuelled with microalgae biodiesel

Owing to high growth rate, being non-edible, and environmental friendliness; microalgae is a promising third generation biodiesel raw material. In this study, hydrogen and hydroxy gas aspirated compression ignition engine which was fuelled with microalgae biodiesel and low sulphur diesel fuel blend were investigated in order to evaluate their combined effect. The results showed that the brake power and torque output of the test engine decreased with microalgae biodiesel usage. Moreover, microalgae biodiesel addition results in lower carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxides emissions, and higher carbon dioxide. The introduction of hydrogen and hydroxy gas compensated the decrement of torque and power output and increment of carbon dioxide emission. The study enlightened that usage of microalgae biodiesel with hydrogen and hydroxy gas addition is a very promising combination from the environmental viewpoint.     

On the effect of carbon monoxide addition on soot formation in a laminar ethylene/air coflow diffusion flame

The effect of carbon monoxide addition on soot formation in an ethylene/air diffusion flame is investigated by experiment and detailed numerical simulation. The paper focuses on the chemical effect of carbon monoxide addition by comparing the results of carbon monoxide and nitrogen diluted flames. Both experiment and simulation show that although overall the addition of carbon monoxide monotonically reduces the formation of soot, the chemical effect promotes the formation of soot in an ethylene/air diffusion flame. The further analysis of the details of the numerical result suggests that the chemical effect of carbon monoxide addition may be caused by the modifications to the flame temperature, soot surface growth and oxidation reactions. Flame temperature increases relative to a nitrogen diluted flame, which results in a higher surface growth rate, when carbon monoxide is added. Furthermore, the addition of carbon monoxide increases the concentration of H radical owing to the intensified forward rate of the reaction CO + OH = CO₂ + H and therefore increases the surface growth reaction rates. The addition of carbon monoxide also slows the oxidation rate of soot because the same reaction CO + OH = CO₂ + H results in a lower concentration of OH.     

Alumina supported nano-platinum on copper nanoparticles prepared via galvanic displacement reaction for preferential carbon monoxide oxidation in presence of hydrogen

Improved catalytic centres with a minimum mass-loading of expensive platinum (Pt) have been anticipated for various catalytic applications, for instance preferential oxidation (PROX) of carbon monoxide (CO) in the presence of Hydrogen. Here, we report the synthesis of nano-Pt on the surface of copper (Cu) nanoparticles (NPs) supported on γ-Al₂O₃ (Pt_n(Cu)/γ-Al₂O₃) via galvanic displacement reaction (GDR) for the catalytic CO-PROX reaction. Pt_n(Cu)/γ-Al₂O₃ showed much improved CO-PROX performance compared to that of the as-synthesized Pt_l(Cu)/γ-Al₂O₃ catalyst. Importantly, no significant conversion of hydrogen at a lower temperature range (<200 °C) is observed during the CO-PROX reaction which is one of the essential prerequisites for the CO-PROX reaction. Moreover, Pt_n(Cu)/γ-Al₂O₃ showed the durable, long-term catalytic CO-PROX performance for 120 h. These results infer that realization of nano-Pt on the surface of the Cu NPs holds the promise as the catalytic centres with the minimum mass-loading of Pt for the CO-PROX reaction.     

Studies on reduction of chromium doped iron oxide catalyst using hydrogen and various concentration of carbon monoxide

Chemical reduction behaviour of 3% chromium doped (Cr–Fe₂O₃) and undoped iron oxides (Fe₂O₃) were investigated by using temperature programmed reduction (TPR). The reduced phases were characterized by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD). The reduction processes were achieved with 10% H₂ in nitrogen (%, v/v), 10% and 20% of carbon monoxide (CO) in nitrogen (%, v/v). In hydrogen atmosphere, the TPR results indicate that the reduction of Cr–Fe₂O₃ and Fe₂O₃ proceed in three steps (Fe₂O₃ → Fe₃O₄ → FeO → Fe) with Fe₃O₄ and FeO as intermediate states. A complete reduction to metallic iron for both samples occurred at 900 °C. As for CO reductant, the profiles show the reduction of Fe₂O₃ also proceeded in three steps with a complete reduction occurs at 900 °C in 10% CO with no sign of carbide formation. Nevertheless, a 20% CO was able to reduce the completely at lower temperature at 700 °C and there is a formation of iron carbide at 500 °C but the carbide disappeared as the reduction temperature increase. Meanwhile in 10% CO atmosphere, Cr–Fe₂O₃ shows a better reducibility compared to Fe₂O₃ with a complete reduction at 700 °C, which is 200 °C lower than Fe₂O₃. A Cr dopant in the Fe₂O₃ can lead to formation of various forms of iron carbides such as F₂C, Fe₅C₂, Fe₂₃C₆ and Fe₃C as the CO concentration was increased to 20%. The transformation profile of iron phases during carburization follows the following forms, Fe₂O₃ → Fe₃O₄ → iron carbides (Fe_xC). The XRD pattern shows the diffraction peaks of Cr–Fe₂O₃ are more intense with improved crystallinity for the characteristic peaks of Fe₂O₃ compare to undoped Fe₂O₃. No visible sign of chromium particles peaks in the XRD spectrum that indicates the Cr particles loaded onto the iron oxide are well dispersed. The uniform dispersion with no sign of sintering effects of the Cr dopant on the Fe₂O₃ was confirmed by FESEM. The study shows that Cr dopant gives a better reducibility of iron oxide but promotes the formation of carbides in an excess CO concentration.     

Analysis of the effects of reformate (hydrogen/carbon monoxide) as an assistive fuel on the performance and emissions of used canola-oil biodiesel

Evolving technology and a reoccurring energy crisis creates a continued investigation into the search for sustainable and clean-burning renewable fuels. One possibility is hydrogen that has many desirable qualities such as a low flammability limit promoting ultra-lean combustion, high laminar flame speed for increased thermal efficiency and low emissions. However, past research discovered certain limiting factors in its use such as pre-ignition in spark ignition engines and inability to work as a singular fuel in compression ignition engines. To offset these issues, this work documents manifold injection of a hydrogen/carbon monoxide mixture in a dual-fuel methodology with biodiesel. While carbon monoxide does degrade some of the desirable properties of hydrogen, it acts partially like a diluent to restrict pre-ignition. The result of this mixture addition allows the engine to maintain power while reducing biodiesel fuel consumption with a minimal NO_x emissions increase.     

An investigation into the impact of burning diesel/lubricant oil mixtures on the nature of particulate emissions: Implications for DPF ash-loading acceleration method

Ever-tightening particulate emissions regulation and the need of extending diesel particulate filter (DPF) manual cleaning period require an in-depth investigation into exhaust-borne ash components that may potentially deposit in DPF using a variety of methods to accelerate loading. Currently, the most common method used is blending a certain volume of lubricant oil into diesel. Predictably, the addition of lubricant oil will alter the nature of particles emitted from engines, creating an artifact between “accelerated” and real ash and therefore biasing the functionality of this method. However, such impacts haven't been carefully evaluated. In this paper, the mass, number, size-resolved distribution, morphology, and elemental analysis of the particles from a Euro-5 compliant, 2.5 L diesel engine consuming conventional diesel, diesel+2v% lubricant oil, and diesel+4v%lubricant oil were measured and compared 24. The results indicate that with the addition of lubricant oil into diesel, both the particulate mass and number emission increased dramatically, a proportional increase in particle numbers of all size stages was seen with 2% lubricant oil blending, while 4% blending only increased the number concentrations of nuclei-mode and relatively large particles. Adding lubricant oil into diesel tended to complicate the microstructure of particles. Particle-bound phosphorus and zinc were only identified when lubricant oil was dosed. An increased oxygen mass fraction with the presence of lubricant oil also suggests heavier volatile materials emissions. Lastly, although burning diesel/lubricant oil mixtures enables an accelerated ash loading process in a DPF, excessive blending ratio could alter the nature of engine-out particles and increase uncertainty. It is recommended to achieve fast ash accumulation at a high engine load with diesel+2v%lubricant oil.     

Studies on influence of hydrogen and carbon monoxide concentration on reduction progression behavior of molybdenum oxide catalyst

Temperature programmed reduction (TPR) analysis was applied to investigate the chemical reduction progression behavior of molybdenum oxide (MoO₃) catalyst. The composition and morphology of the reduced phases were characterized by X-ray diffraction spectroscopy (XRD), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). The reduction progression of MoO₃ catalyst was attained with different reductant types and concentration (10% H₂/N₂, 10% and 20% CO/N₂ (%, v/v)). Two different modes of reduction process were applied. The first approach of reduction involved non-isothermal mode reduction up to 700 °C, while the second approach of reduction involved the isothermal mode reduction for 60 min at 700 °C. Hydrogen temperature programmed reduction (H₂-TPR) results showed the reduction progression of three-stage reduction of MoO₃ (Mo⁶⁺ → Mo⁵⁺ → Mo⁴⁺ → Mo⁰) with Mo⁵⁺ and Mo⁴⁺. XRD analysis confirmed the formation of Mo₄O₁₁ phase as an intermediate phase followed by MoO₂ phase. After 60 min of isothermal reduction, peaks of metallic molybdenum (Mo) appeared. Whereas, FESEM analysis showed porous crater-like structure on the surface cracks of MoO₂ layer which led to the growth of Mo phase. Meanwhile, the reduction of MoO₃ catalyst in 10% carbon monoxide (CO) showed the formation of unstable intermediate phase of Mo₉O₂₆ at the early stage of reduction. Furthermore, by increasing 20% CO led to the carburization of MoO₂ phase, resulted in the formation of Mo₂C rather than the formation of metallic Mo, as confirmed by XPS analysis. Therefore, the presented study shows that hydrogen gave better reducibility due to smaller molecular size, which contributed to high diffusion rate and achieved deeper penetration into the MoO₃ catalyst compared to carbon monoxide reductant. Hence, the reduction of MoO₃ in carbon monoxide atmosphere promoted the formation of Mo₂C which was in agreement with the thermodynamic assessment.     

Effect of hydrogen addition to intake air on combustion noise from a diesel engine

This study investigates the characteristics of combustion noise from a diesel engine with hydrogen added to intake air. The engine noise with hydrogen addition of 10 vol% to the intake air was lower than that with diesel fuel alone at late diesel-fuel injection timings. A transient combustion-noise-generation model was introduced to discuss noise characteristics based on energy conversion from combustion impact to noise via structure vibration. The results show that the maximum combustion impact energy had a predominant effect on the maximum engine noise power for each cycle. Therefore, the combustion noise largely contributed to the total engine noise in an early stage of the expansion stroke. The dependences of engine noise on the diesel-fuel injection timing for different hydrogen fractions are discussed considering the characteristics of maximum combustion impact energy for each frequency.     

Physical and chemical behaviour of tungsten oxide in the presence of nickel additive under hydrogen and carbon monoxide atmospheres

The physical and chemical behaviour of bulk tungsten oxide (WO₃) and Ni doped tungsten oxide (15% Ni/WO₃) were examined by performing a temperature-programmed reduction (TPR) technique. The chemical composition, morphology, and surface composition of both samples before and after reduced were analysed by X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (FESEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analysis. The XRD pattern of calcined Ni doped tungsten oxide powder comprised of WO₃ and nickel tungstate (NiWO₄) phases. The reduction behaviour was investigated by a non-isothermal reduction up to 900 °C achieved under (10 and 20% v/v) hydrogen in nitrogen (H₂ in N₂) and (20 and 40% v/v) carbon monoxide in nitrogen (CO in N₂) atmospheres. The H₂-TPR were indicated the reduction of bulk WO₃ and 15% NiWO₃ proceed in three steps (WO₃ → WO₂ → WO₂ + W) and (WO₃ → WO₂ → W + Ni₄W) respectively under 20% H₂. Whereas, the reduction of 15% WO₃ under 40% CO involves of two following stages: (i) low temperature (<800 °C) transformation of WO₃ → WO_2.72 → WO₂ and, (ii) high temperature (>800 °C) transformation of WO₂ → W → WC. Furthermore, NiWO₄ alloy phase was transformed according to the sequence NiWO₄ → Ni + WO_2.72 → Ni + WO₂ → Ni + W → Ni₄W + W at temperature >700 °C and >800 °C in H₂ and CO atmospheres, respectively. It can be concluded that the reduction behaviour of WO₃ is matched with the thermodynamic data. In addition, the reduction under H₂ is more favourable and have better reducibility compared to the CO gas. It is due to the small molecule size and molecule mass of H₂ that encourages the diffusion of H₂ molecule into the internal surface of the catalyst compared to CO. Moreover, Ni additive had improved the WO₃ reducibility and enhancing the CO adsorption and promotes the formation of tungsten carbide (WC) by carburisation reaction. Besides, the formation of Ni during the reduction of 15% Ni/WO₃ under CO reductant catalysed the Boudouard reaction to occur, which disproportionated the carbon monoxide to carbon dioxide and carbon (CO → CO₂ + C).     

Influence of hydrogen and carbon monoxide on reduction behavior of iron oxide at high temperature: Effect on reduction gas concentrations

The purposes of this study are to reduce Fe₂O₃ using hydrogen (H₂) and carbon monoxide (CO) gases at a high temperature zone (500 °C–900 °C) by focusing on the influence of reduction gas concentrations. Reduction behavior of hematite (Fe₂O₃) at high temperature was examined using temperature programmed reduction (TPR) under non-isothermal conditions with the presence of 10% H₂/N₂, 20% H₂/N₂, 10% CO/N₂, 20% CO/N₂ and 40% CO/N₂. The TPR_CO results indicated that the first and second reduction peaks of Fe₂O₃ at a temperature below 660 °C appeared rapidly when compared to TPR_H2. However, TPR_H2 exhibited a better reduction in which Fe₂O₃ entirely reduced to Fe at temperature 800 °C (20% H₂) without any remaining of wustite (FeO) whereas a temperature above 900 °C is needed for a complete reduction in 10% H₂/N₂, 10% and 20% CO/N₂. Furthermore, the reduction of hematite could be improved when increasing CO and H₂ concentrations since reduction profiles were shifted to a lower temperature. Thermodynamic calculation has shown that enthalpy change of reaction (ΔHr) for all phases transformation in CO atmosphere is significantly lower than in H₂. This disclosed that CO is the best reductant as it is a more exothermic, more spontaneous reaction and able to initiate the reduction at a much lower temperature than H₂ atmosphere. Nevertheless, the reduction of hematite using CO completed at a temperature slightly higher compared to H₂. It is due to the presence of an additional carburization reaction which is a phase transformation of wustite to iron carbide (FeO → Fe₃C). Carburization started at the end of the second stage reduction at 600 °C and 630 °C under 20% and 40% CO, respectively. Therefore, reduction by CO encouraged the formation of carbide, slower the reduction and completed at high temperature. XRD analysis disclosed the formation of austenite during the final stage of a reduction under further exposure with high CO concentration. Overall, less energy consumption needed during the first and second stages of reduction by CO, the formation of iron carbide and austenite were enhanced with the presence of higher CO concentration. Meanwhile, H₂ has stimulated the formation of pure metallic iron (Fe), completed the reduction faster, considered as the strongest reducing agent than CO and these are effective at a higher temperature. Proposed iron phase transformation under different reducing agent concentrations are as followed: (a) 10% H₂, 20% H₂ and 10% C; Fe₂O₃ → Fe₃O₄ → FeO → Fe, (b) 20% CO; Fe₂O₃ → Fe₃O₄ → FeO → Fe₃C → Fe and (c) 40% CO; Fe₂O₃ → Fe₃O₄ → FeO → Fe₃C → Fe → F,C (austenite).