Prof. Jose D'Abreu

The major scientific and technical works of Prof. D'Abreu has significantly contributed to the establishment and development of various metallurgical processes, particularly for ironmaking and non-ferrous technologies, residues recycling and effluents treatments, and energy efficiency implementation in a large number of materials processing and their related reduction of CO2 emission, ever focusing sustainability as one of the main research and cooperative industrial projects outputs. In Brazil Prof. D'Abreu has dedicated himself to the academic activities of research and education in Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (PUC-Rio) and as conferee Professor in Military Institute of Engineering (IME) and Fluminense Federal University (UFF). With more than 250 papers published in Journals and Proceedings, 2 books issued, 60 MSc and PhD academic advisory and more than 1500 graduate students taught in several disciplines in courses such as metallurgy, materials, mechanics and chemical engineering, he has been considered an "all-in-one" Professor. Passionate, motivated, oriented for practical results, visionary and a systematic thinker, he continues to inspire worldwide generations of engineers and students. In a list far from being exhaustive, Prof. D'Abreu has a significant number of ex-students in senior positions at private Companies, Universities and Government Departments in Brazil and other countries. Devoted to the field of engineering processing of materials and their environmental and social implications, many achievements can be credited to Prof. D'Abreu along his still current operative life , such as:

1. Self-Reactivity Technology
   This emergent ironmaking technology is one of the main legacy of Prof D'Abreu. Conceived and developed entirely in Brazil, its evolution has demanded efforts for more than 30 years. Under his guidance, a series of thermodynamic and kinetic coefficients databanks, Thesis, cooperative researches, publications, mathematical and physical models, alternative binders developments, "in situ" observations of the internal zones of reactors after quenching, etc., were performed. His participation as consultant of Tecnored Company was also crucial for the pilot and industrial demonstration plants start-up and fully development of this process.
   
   
2. Metallic Manganese
   Aiming to define a new technological outline for exhausted mines, previously used to produce manganese-ferroalloys, metallic and pure manganese oxide productions were fundamentally studied and an effective feasible production chain, through ore reduction, acid/neutral leaching , solution precipitation, filtration, purification and electrolysis unit operations was proposed, which enable the continuing use of those mineral resources.
   
   
3. Direct Reduction
   Brazil is one of the major supplier of DR pellets, in quantity and quality to the worldwide sponge-iron (DRI/HBI, etc.) producers. Through an Industry - University cooperative project, the simultaneous metallization and carburization kinetic reactions, studied on the effective conditions of the gas-based Direct Reduction shaft furnaces, was proposed for increasing productivity and to optimize the energy consumption of refining operation in steelmaking reactors. These studies led to the generation of 3 originals experimental-based mathematical models, which are being used in academic investigations and for simulation, and control of industrial processes.
   
   
4. Steelmaking slags
   In order to recycle steelmaking slags using simultaneously its energy content, a synthesis reaction in high temperature was conceived and applied to generate a new product. Currently, the success of the laboratory scale experiments has led the partners of this cooperative research to design a specific pilot plant, aiming to get the key parameters for further implementation of an industrial plant.
   
   
5. Steel production chains
   It's well-known that different operational steps arrays can be used to produce crude steels. Using two groups of mathematical models, one formed by the softwares named MANAGER and VIU (Value-In-Use), and the other by a set of six computational programs built for each iron and steelmaking unit operations (Coke BF, Charcoal BF, DR. Tecnored, LD and EAF), this integrated system has been used to analyze and compare very quickly the technical and economic feasibility of steelmaking routes, for both academic and industrial purposes, as well.
   
   
6. Blast Furnace
   Reduction of the hot metal (HM) cost is strongly requested to produce steels in integrated plants. Besides blast furnace, the sintering, pelletizing and coke oven plants have a high influence on HM cost composition. In order to assist operational specialists decisions and basic researches in these fields, a set of mathematical models involving the production of sinter, coke, pellets, BF hot metal, the related VIU softwares and the CC-DR diagrams were developed, through several research projects and human resource programs between the University and Integrated Steel Companies.
   
   
7. Iron ore raw material
   Iron ore quality has worldwide changed dramatically. Higher impurities like Phosphorus and alumina are forcing to increase the slag rates. Beyond that, its higher amount of fines are also impacting sinter plant productivity and economics. Specifically to face the Phosphorus challenge, a method to speed up the structural migration of this element was proposed and successfully tested in laboratory and in pilot plant scales. Currently a patent about this subject are being asked by the partners.

Eager to learn more about the materials processing developments, Prof. D'Abreu participates in many congresses, conferences and meetings, ever accessing several other sources of knowledge, in order to share and discuss the latest activities with students, industry professionals and colleagues throughout the world. As a very active member in scientific and technical world associations, like ABM, AIST, TMS and APMMM, he has served and helped their growth. He actively occupied various managerial positions in the Brazilian Association of Metallurgy, Materials and Mining - ABM, where worked as a leader in important research projects for the govern and private industries and also personally leading efforts for books publication, technical courses, creation of technical divisions, interfacing with the industry and pushing students to participate in the association. Currently he is a member of ABM Institute Pro-Innovation and Competitiveness - IABM, where he was a President for 4 years and directly supervised the strategic governmental study: "Prospective Study of the Brazilian Steel Industry in 2025". Regarding the "Associacion Peruana de Metalurgia, Materiales y Mineracion - APMMM", he encouraged and founded the association with some Peruvian PhD ex-students, receiving an Honorific title from this association. As a permanent member of the "Forum for Steel Industry Competitiveness" from the Ministry of Development, Industry and Commerce - MDIC , he has assisted the govern with diagnostic reports, trends programs, action plans and debates. In 2012, as major Chairman, he was directly involved in bringing the "6th International Conference on Science and Technology of Ironmaking - ICSTI", to Rio de Janeiro. This important conference gathered experts of industry and academia, from more than 50 countries. Currently Prof. D'Abreu is also a member of the Scientific and Technical Council of the National Mineral Technology Center - Cetem, one of the 17 Research Institution of the Brazilian Govern. Through these lifetime achievements, his contribution to the advancement and improvement of materials processing engineering field has been effectively significant and recognized by Academia and Industry.

Prof. Jose D'Abreu, Receiving the Fray International Sustainability Award from Dr. Florian Kongoli at FLOGEN SIPS 2016

Dr. Florian Kongoli introducing Prof. Jose D'Abreu as a winner of Fray International Sustainability Award at FLOGEN SIPS 2016

Prof. Jose D'Abreu delivering his acceptance speech to Dr. Florian Kongoli, during the FLOGEN SIPS Fray International Sustainability Award ceremony

Award Ceremony Hall

Prof. Jose Carlos D'Abreu receives FLOGEN SIPS 2016 Fray International Sustainability Award given to him by Dr. Florain Kongoli

SIPS 2018 - INTERVIEW WITH PROF. JOSE CARLOS D'ABREU