Title : Effect of charcoal addition on coke properties: A low-emission integrated steelmaking process
Abstract:
The iron and steel industry is one of the largest emitters of greenhouse gases, accounting for around ~ 8% of global CO2 emissions. One way to reduce these emissions is to use charcoal, a carbon-rich material derived from the pyrolysis of biomass, as a substitute for coal in the iron-making process. Use of charcoal in iron-making is a promising way to reduce the industry's environmental impact and improve its sustainability. Raw biomass cannot be directly used for the conventional fossil-based fuels used in the iron-making process due to its high moisture, low fixed carbon and high volatile matter. Pyrolysis is required to get high carbon-rich products before its use in iron-making applications.
Biomass pyrolysis was done on Prosopis juliflora biomass at different temperatures. 550 °C was found to be a suitable temperature for getting a good quality of charcoal with fixed carbon >70%. The main objective of this study was to prepare metallurgical coke by the utilization of biomass-derived charcoal at different proportions of varying sizes. The addition of charcoal in the blend alters the reactivity and properties of coke. Owing to different physico-chemical properties of charcoal and coal, a small amount of charcoal deterioration of coke properties was observed. The characterization such as FTIR, ultimate analysis, proximate analysis, crucible swelling number, plasticity, and dilatometer tests were performed on coking coal blends. The results are discussed. The plasticity and dilatation of the biochar-coal blend has decreased with increasing charcoal percentage. Process optimization was done to get comparable CSR and CRI of conventional coke used for blast furnace. The study paves the way towards the utilization of charcoal in sustainable coke making in steel industries.
Audience Take Away Notes:
- In the context of decarbonization in the steel industry, this work will enable substantial reduction of CO2. In the context of decarbonization in the steel industry, this work will enable a substantial reduction of CO2.
- Implementation of biocarbon in the iron making process
- This will help in green steel production.
