This paper deals with assessing the impact of substitution fuel charcoal on the technological parameters of sintering and agglomerate quality. Changes in the quantity and qualitative parameters of fuel in the process of agglomeration affect the maximum sintering temperature and productivity. The maximum temperature varies with calorific value, the amount of fuel and gas-dynamic conditions in the sintered layer. When replacing fuel by solid biomass, an important parameter is also quantity of volatile substances that affect the process of agglomerate formation. Agglomerate quality is determined by its chemical composition, its physical and metallurgical properties. Effect of charcoal, as fuel substitution, on agglomerate quality indicators is evident. It was confirmed that the replacement of fuel by charcoal is only possible to a certain percentage level regarding agglomerate quality. Small amount of charcoal in the agglomeration process favorably affects the quality of agglomerate.

This article analyses the formation of emissions and their impact on the quality of the environment in the production of iron ore agglomerates with the addition of biomass. Agglomeration operations long time rang among the largest air polluters. The contemporary trend is manifested mainly by the reduction of pollutants emitted into the atmosphere; therefore, it is relevant to deal with this issue. The amount and chemical composition of harmful substances released by the production of iron ore agglomerate is affected by a large number of factors, but mainly by chemical and granulometric charge composition, amount, type and granulometry of fuel, but also technological parameters of sintering, such as negative pressure, thickness of sintered layer, charge permeability or speed and amount of sucked air. Analysis of the effect of the addition of biomass on the production of emissions in agglomeration process was carried out by experiments with laboratory sintering pan. Based on the results of laboratory sinterings, with the substitution of coke breeze by charcoal in the amounts of 8 %, 14 %, 20 %, 44 %, 50 % and 86 %, it can be stated that there was no significant over-production, or reduction of emissions of CO2 and CO when compared to coke breeze as fuel. In the case of NO and NOx emissions, there was observed some more significant reduction in the sintering with 44 %, 50 % and 86 % replacement of coke breeze by charcoal. Overall, the issue of coke breeze substitution in the agglomeration process with various types of biofuels is justified, but it should be explored in more detail.

As a result of rising fossil fuel prices and strict environmental regulations, it is necessary to find new solutions to reduce the proportion of coke breeze in the production of agglomerate. One solution is to use alternative biomass based fuels as a partial replacement of coke breeze. To implement laboratory sintering served laboratory sintering pan, the data were recorded and subsequently evaluated. Coke breeze was partially replaced with charcoal in amount of 8 %, 14 %, 20 %, 44 %, 50 %, 86 %, and the agglomerate was compared to standard agglomerate produced without biomass. The performance and quality parameters were monitored and compared. It can be concluded from acquired data that the charcoal is a suitable substitute fuel in the agglomeration process. In terms of technical and economic indicators, it is appropriate to replace fossil fuels in the range from 0 % to 44 %. In this interval it was possible to observe the positive impact of charcoal in all evaluated parameters.

Worldwide laboratory research proves that replacement of coke breeze by solid biomass in the process of agglomeration is possible [1,2,3]. One possibility of solid biomass use is the charcoal. Literature indicates that coke breeze can be replaced by charcoal up to 40% based on calorific value [4]. This paper deals with the poblems of coke breeze substitution by charcoal in laboratory conditions sintering and the impact of such substitution on the resulting agglomerate properties, i.e. microstructure. Agglomerate microstructure consists of mineralogical phases; hematite, magnetite, calcium and aluminum silico-ferrites, and silicates. Substituting coke breeze for charcoal up to 40% in the process of agglomeration, slight changes occur in the volume fractions of individual phases of the agglomerates. Volume fractions of agglomerate phases change significantly above 40% substitution by charcoal. Phase composition has an effect on the quality characteristics of the produced agglomerate. The amount of calcium and aluminum silico-ferrites influences the strength of the agglomerate [5].