AbstractThe basic idea of H2–C mixture reduction reflects advantages of hydrogen for fast reaction and low heat absorption in smelting reduction reactor, where hydrogen is used as main reducing agent and carbon as main heat generator on purpose to cut down total energy consumption and CO2 emission. This article aimed at the experimental investigation of optimal carbon/hydrogen ratio, a key parameter of iron oxide reduction with mixture reductive agents of carbon and hydrogen. Experiments were carried out using a pure Al2O3 crucible which was placed in a tubular furnace for high temperature. Two investigation methods were adopted, one was injecting acetylene/hydrogen mixture reducing gas into molten iron oxides and another was blowing hydrogen into iron bath during continuous feeding fine ore mixing solid carbon dust. Parameters such as apparent de‐oxidation rate and utilization ratio of reductive agents were calculated from content analysis of exhaust gas after dust removing and drying. In experiments highest total de‐oxidation rate and satisfied apparent utilization ratio of hydrogen were obtained under conditions with temperatures of 1823 K and carbon/hydrogen ratio in region from 0.5:1 to 2:1.