The present study is focused on developing novel recycling of palm shell wastes as a carbon resource in electric arc furnace (EAF) steelmaking. Metallurgical coke was replaced by palm shells, and interactions with EAF slag were investigated at 1550 °C in a laboratory-scale reactor using the sessile-drop approach in an argon atmosphere (1 L/min). The palm shells were devolatilized in a nitrogen atmosphere at 450 °C, while coke was used without initial processing. The quantitative estimation of the slag droplet volume was performed using the V t /V 0 ratio as a measure of slag foaming. For coke, the volume ratio decreased from 1.0 to 0.8 in the first 10 min with no considerable fluctuations. However, palm shell char showed considerably different trends with continuous fluctuations, reaching a maximum value of V t /V 0 = 1.3, indicating a higher extent of gas entrapped into the slag matrix compared to coke. Off-gas emissions were monitored and correlated with dynamic changes in volume as a result of iron-oxide-rich EAF slag and carbon. The rates of total gas generation (CO + CO2) from palm shell char were comparable to those seen in coke; however, the gases released from palm shell were an extent over a longer period of time, which allowed for their entrapment in the slag matrix, enhancing the volume of the slag. A thermogravimetric analyzer coupled with a mass spectrometer (TGA–MS) was used to study the behavior of coke and palm shells at high temperatures, with a focus on gas formation. The weight loss profiles, gas formation, and product distribution were significantly different between the two carbonaceous samples. It was found that more gases were released from palm shells than from the raw coke. Palm shells showed significant weight loss in the first 500 °C; however, a considerable amount of gases was evolved at temperatures higher than 1000 °C that might participate in the subsequent carbon/slag reactions. Optical microscopy images of the cross-section of the slag/palm shell sample showed trapped gas bubbles and reduced iron dispersed throughout the slag matrix. These results indicate that partial replacement of coke with palm shells is not only viable but efficient, leading to improved/sustained interactions with EAF slag.

An investigation on the reduction of iron ore with carbonaceous material as a reductant was carried out at 1550°C. Iron ore was mixed with biochar from palm shell and coke as a reference at C/O molar ratio of 1.0. Characterisation of raw materials was performed using X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET), Fourier Transmittance Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM-EDX). The samples after reduction were characterised to study the phase transformation and structural properties. The XRD results revealed the iron ore contained hematite as its main composition. After reduction at high temperature, the hematite has been successfully reduced to metallic iron using biochar as a reductant. It was found that the reaction proceeded in a stepwise reduction of iron oxide. The SEM micrographs proved the formation of metallic iron in the sample after reduction at 1550°C. Through characterisation, the biochar from palm shell has physical properties suitable to be an alternative carbon reductant to replace coke.

Photocatalytic activity in TiO2 attract great attention because it promising application in contaminations on degradation and energy conversation. However there is a need on TiO2 band gap modification to be equivalent with the visible light. Thus, inviting several method of addition certain elements including in this study, the additional of graphene oxide (GO) was investigated. GO were prepared by Hummer method before it was added into TiO2. The formation of GO from it graphite precursor had been confirmed by Raman spectroscopy. The existence of D-band at wavelength of 1328 cm-1 and G-band at 1573 cm-1 shows the formation of GO. The GO was then added in different concentration; 0.0 - 1.0 wt% into TiO2. The photocatalytic activity was determined using calculating the photodegradation efficiencies of methylene blue under UV light irradiation. The experimental results showed that the photodegradation of MB were increased with higher dopants concentration due to reduction of band gap energy of TiO2 from 3.2 eV to 3.0 eV for 1.0 wt% GO-with the photodegradation efficiency of GO doped TiO2 was 61.38%.