Producing iron from solid iron carbide

A method of producing molten iron having a carbon concentration of between 2-5 wt % from iron carbide which comprises the steps of:

• (i) injecting solid iron carbide into a molten bath comprising molten iron and slag and dissolving the iron carbide in the molten bath and thereby maintaining the molten bath in a reducing environment and generating solid and/or gaseous combustible material, at least some of which is released into a gas space above the surface of the molten bath;
• (ii) injecting an oxygen-containing gas into the gas space above the surface of the molten bath and causing combustion of at least a portion of combustible material in the gas space;
• (iii) causing splashes and/or droplets of molten iron and/or slag to be ejected upwardly from the molten bath into the gas space above the bath surface to form a transition zone in which heat generated by combustion of combustible material is transferred to the splashes and/or droplets of molten iron and/or slag and thereafter is transferred to the molten bath when the splashes and/or droplets of molten iron and/or slag return to the molten bath;
• and
• (iv) periodically or continuously tapping molten iron having a carbon concentration of between 2-5 wt %.