BigPatents India

The present invention relates to a production method of a metallic iron by reducing a compact containing a carbonaceous reductant and an iron oxide by heat, comprising the steps of: supplying the compact directly to a molten iron bath or to a molten slag on the molten iron bath, in a furnace having a high temperature atmosphere; and causing the supplied compact to float on the molten iron bath and/or the molten slag such that at least a part of the compact surface is substantially exposed to the high temperature gas atmosphere in the furnace, until the iron oxide in the compact is substantially reduced.