Potential and Environmental Benefits of Biochar Utilization for Coal/Coke Substitution in the Steel Industry

Suad Al Hosni, Marta Domini (), Reza Vahidzadeh and Giorgio Bertanza ()
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Suad Al Hosni: Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, Via Branze 43, 25126 Brescia, Italy
Marta Domini: Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, Via Branze 43, 25126 Brescia, Italy
Reza Vahidzadeh: Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, Via Branze 43, 25126 Brescia, Italy
Giorgio Bertanza: Department of Civil, Environmental, Architectural Engineering and Mathematics, University of Brescia, Via Branze 43, 25126 Brescia, Italy

Energies, 2024, vol. 17, issue 11, 1-16

Abstract: The metallurgical sector is one of the most emission- and energy-intensive industries. The possibility of using fossil carbon substitutes has been investigated to reduce the environmental impact of the steelmaking sector. Among others, biochar emerged as a promising fossil coal/coke substitute. We conducted a literature review on biochar use in the metallurgical sector and its potential environmental benefits. The possibility for biochar as a coal/coke substitute is influenced by the source of biochar production and the process within which it can be used. In general, it has been observed that substitution of biochar ranging from a minimum of 5% to a maximum of 50% (mostly around 20–25%) is possible without affecting, or in some cases improving, the process, in coke making, iron sintering, blast furnaces and electric furnaces application. In some studies, the potential CO 2 reduction due to biochar use was estimated, ranging from 5% to about 50%. Despite there still being an area of further investigation, biochar appeared as a promising resource with a variety of uses in the metallurgical sector, contributing to the lowering of the environmental impact of the sector.

Keywords: biochar; biomass; circular economy; coke; decarbonization; environmental impact; furnace; steelmaking (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q Q0 Q4 Q40 Q41 Q42 Q43 Q47 Q48 Q49 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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