Two novel experimental approaches to study the reduction kinetics of hematite (Fe2O3) by hydrogen at low temperatures are presented. Experiments were carried out in batch reactors at 200 degrees C and at H-2 pressures of 3, 6 and 8 MPa, respectively. Complementary experiments were performed in an open system at atmospheric H-2 pressure and 270 degrees C. Here the reaction product water in the effluent gas was quantified in short intervals by gas chromatography (Thermal Conductivity Detector; TCD). The mineralogical changes over time were assessed by X-ray powder diffraction with Rietveld analysis, scanning electron microscopy and the measurement of magnetic hysteresis loops. While the phase conversions of hematite -> magnetite -> Fe(0) are occurring consec- utively in open systems (p(H-2) approximate to 0.1 MPa), in closed systems at elevated H-2 pressure both reduction products are observed simultaneously. At 200 degrees C the reaction rates are about one order of magnitude lower than at 270 degrees C. The conversion rate of magnetite -> Fe(0) is highly sensitive to the hydrogen pressure with a rate increase by a factor of 2.5 upon an increase of p(H-2) from 3 to 6 MPa and by 2.0 between 6 and 8 MPa. (C) 2019 Hydrogen Energy Publications LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.