Alternative raw material research for decarbonization of UK glass manufacture

Abstract

Based on the current UK decarbonization policy, a general outlook on potential routes for the glass industry to achieve net‐zero is discussed and the differentiation during decarbonization is specified. Biomass ash is considered a potential alternative raw material for low‐carbon glass manufacture as it is rich in certain advantageous components, chiefly network modifiers. Simple sieving processes were shown to effectively separate impurities such as S, Cl, and C from some biomass ashes according to particle size distribution. The concentration of undesirable impurities decreased with increasing particle size. Morphologies and X‐ray diffraction patterns of larger washed biomass ash particles indicated liquid/amorphous phase formation during biomass combustion. The washing of ashes was also shown to be a potential route to purification. A washed bracken ash relevant to both modern and ancient glass production was characterized for comparison. Ultraviolet‐visible near‐infrared (UV‐Vis‐near IR) absorption spectra of representative green container glasses produced using biomass ash confirmed that ∼5 wt.% ash in representative glass batches has little impact on the color and redox state of glasses; the redox status of glass produced using >2 mm biomass ash after washing was less reduced than that of glass produced using high levels (>∼9 wt.%) of >2 mm biomass ash after sieving alone, observed via the redox couple Cr3+/Cr6+ by UV‐Vis‐near IR absorption spectroscopy.

Towards Carbon Neutrality and Circular Economy in the Glass Industry by Using the Production Decision Model

“…In recent years, the international net-zero carbon emission trend has also affected the glass industry, which will have a transformative impact through lightweight changes [10]. Light glass and glass recycling are solutions to reduce the effect of carbon dioxide in the glass industry [11,12]. This study will take the glass industry as an example to explore its continuous production decision-making model under the green economy, including the carbon tax system, carbon rights trading system, recycling system (circular economy), the carbon emission cost, and the operating cost.…”