Biomass as a Source of Renewable Carbon for Iron and Steelmaking

Abstract

Fossil fuel-based carbon is widely used in iron and steelmaking in a number of forms, and the replacement of these materials with renewable carbon derived from biomass is seen as offering the greatest potential to reduce the greenhouse gas footprint of steel production. Life cycle assessment methodology has been used to estimate the greenhouse gas footprint of charcoal production from biomass, as well as the potential reductions in greenhouse gas emissions from the use of charcoal from biomass in the integrated, mini-mill/EAF and direct smelting steelmaking routes. The results indicated that the use of charcoal in the integrated steelmaking route in likely applications and substitution rates has the potential to reduce the greenhouse gas footprint of steel by 0.69-1.21 t CO2e/t steel (or 31-57%) without any charcoal production by-product (bio-oil and electricity) credits, and by 0.91-1.61 t CO2e/t steel (42-74%) with these by-product credits included. The corresponding reductions for the mini-mill/EAF and direct smelting routes were 0.028-0.056 t CO2e/t steel (5.5-11%) and 0.34-1.70 t CO2e/t steel (16-80%) without by-product credits, and 0.037-0.075 t CO2e/t steel (7.3-14.7%) and 0.45-2.25 t CO2e/t steel (21-106%) with by-product credits respectively. However, the magnitude of the by-product credits depends on the by-product yields in the charcoal retort, which in turn are dependent on a number of factors, in particular, the nature of the pyrolysis process (fast or slow) and the biomass feed composition.Estimates of the potential plantation areas available to grow the biomass required to produce charcoal for steelmaking purposes in a sustainable manner, together with estimates of sources of biomass residues suggest that it is possible that an appreciable amount of the world's steel production can utilise charcoal in place of coal or coke over the coming decades. However, transportation is expected to be a significant issue affecting the cost of charcoal delivered to steel plants in all biomass source scenarios. Other issues such as technical aspects of charcoal use in steelmaking and economics will also play a significant role in the uptake of charcoal from biomass as a source of renewable carbon for iron and steelmaking.

Effect of briquette composition and size on the quality of the resulting coke

“…The steel industry is an energy and carbon-based intensive process and therefore a major contributor to global anthropogenic CO 2 emissions [1][2][3][4]. At the same time, cokemaking is a process where the recycling of wastes is possible, especially high carbon and low ash wastes like sawdust and charcoal [5][6][7][8][9], plastics [10][11][12], and bituminous wastes [13][14][15].…”

Effect of Extractives and Carbonization Temperature on Energy Characteristics of Wood Waste in Amazon Rainforest

“…At 500°C in Grapia and 700°C in Maçaranduba presented statistical difference in the content of volatile matter for the material with and without extractives, besides an increase in the content of this material without extractives. Norgate et al (2012) and Mathieson et al (2012) state that steel industries in many countries prefer to use wood with a low content of volatile matter in their processes, since these materials volatilize at low temperatures, and charcoal with a high content of fi xed carbon is preferred, due to having high heat resistance (CHENG et al, 2016). There was little variation in the content of volatile material between wood waste with and without extractives.…”

Proposição de melhorias do desempenho ambiental do processo de produção do aço líquido.

“…O consumo de combustível sólido nas Sinterizações varia de 45-60 kg/t sinter produzido. Para minimizar esse total, muitos estudos sobre verificação das potencialidades de combustíveis alternativos têm sido realizados nos últimos anos (NORGATE et al, 2012). Na Pelotização, minério de ferro com granulometria entre 30-70 µm (conhecido como Pellet Feed), calcário e aglomeradores são adicionados sobre tambores inclinados giratórios, que formam as pelotas cruas com diâmetro aparente variável entre 9-16 mm.…”

“…Norgate e Jahanshahi (2011), Norgate et al (2012), Soupajarvi, Pongrácz e Fabritius (2013) discorrem sobre a utilização de biomassa, na forma de carvão vegetal, como alternativa, ainda que de aplicação parcial, ao uso do Coque Metalúrgico. Sabe-se que o consumo de Coque Metalúrgico contribui para elevada emissão de GEE na produção de aço.…”

“…Nesta linha, uma questão que merece destaque no mesmo campo é a das parcerias técnicas entre as empresas e fornecedores de matérias-primas, estabelecidas com o intuito de distribuir insumos de qualidade e grau de pureza elevada com vista a melhorar a eficiência do processo. Exemplos dessas relações aparecem nas produções de Norgate e Jahanshahi (2011), e Norgate et al (2012), Soupajarvi, Pongrácz e Fabritius (2013 em que produtores agrícolas se associam às empresas produtoras de aço para fornecimento de biomassa a ser utilizada em substituição ao Coque Metalúrgico. Não foi encontrada porém, qualquer referência quanto ao uso de análise de desempenho ambiental como critério para seleção desses mesmos provedores.…”