Principles for reducing the DRI carbon content were proposed through two corresponding processes as reducing the Ccritical value and balancing the carbon deposition and consumption rates during the high temperature reduction process. Consequently, the twostep
direct reduction process was optimized, and the final carbon content in DRI obtained was decreased to b5 wt.% in the present study, much smaller than those reported values of 16.5–22.3 wt.% in literature