SCOPE
Hydrogen production
Maturity Level
TRL 3-4
Development Level
Prototype
Protection Level
Under study
Transformation of biomass to biochar and H2
Entity:
Currently, a large amount of fossil carbon in the form of anthracite is required in the electric arc furnace (EAF) steel production process. The use of biomass-derived coal as a substitute for fossil coal could have a significant impact on global CO2 emissions. However, the different physicochemical properties of biomass charcoal lead to significant differences in the process behaviour in the production of EAF steel.
This innovative technology develops the process of obtaining biochar by transforming wood waste into a new product (biochar) with physicochemical characteristics similar to anthracite and improving the carbon footprint by reducing the CO2 produced in the anthracite combustion process.
In the same biochar production process, a fraction of H2 is also obtained that can be reused and valued together with the biochar.
Challenges met
- Replacing the use of anthracite in steel production furnaces with a more environmentally and economically sustainable fuel.
- Reusing and valorising of organic wastes, such as waste wood, that do not compete with the human food chain or animal and plant nutrition, for the production of biochar.
- Reduction of the carbon footprint of the process.
- Parallel production of H2 that can be reused in the process
Scope of application
- Steel production
- Sectors where electric arc furnaces (EAF) are used
- Industrial forestry and biomass residues
Main publications
- Sangib, E.B.; Meshesha, B.T.; Demessie, B.A.; Medina, F. 2020. Study on cellulose (96% crystalline) hydrolysis performance of sulfonated carbon catalyst in microwave-heated reactor at elevated temperatures. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 10:901–913. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-019-00490-6
- Sangib, E.B.; Meshesha, B.T.; Demessie, B.A.; Medina, F. 2022. Optimization of cellulose hydrolysis in the presence of biomass‐derived sulfonated catalyst in microwave reactor using response surface methodology. Biomass Conversion and Biorefinery, 12:1167–1179. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s13399-020-00720-2
Related projects
- REBIOEAF: Valorisation of biomass obtained from steel process residues as biochar for EAF furnaces
Other related technologies
