New process decarbonises steel production

New technology being developed in the steel industry is making use of biomass and microwaves to replace coal in the conversion of Pilbara iron ore to iron for steelmaking.

When this process is used with renewable energy, it is estimated that it can reduce carbon emissions by up to 95% compared to traditional blast furnace steel production.

A warehouse equipment manufacturer relies on steel to make trolleys, shelving, packing tables and other equipment essential for the operation of the warehouse. However, steel production is responsible for 8% of global carbon emissions. There are ways to reduce carbon emissions using renewable energy instead of fossil fuels. Researchers at the University of Nottingham, in collaboration with sustainable technology specialists Metso Corporation, have developed the Biolron process to further reduce carbon emissions.

In the Biolron process, raw biomass is mixed with iron ore fines and heated by using the gas released by the biomass plus microwaves produced by renewable energy to change the ore to metallic iron. The technology still emits some carbon, but this is offset if the biomass is from fast growing plants that absorb CO2 as they grow.

Food materials such as sugar and corn are not suitable sources for the biomass material, but inedible parts of crops, the leaves, straw and stalks can be used. This means that agricultural waste could be utilised in steelmaking.

The Biolron method has been successfully operated at a small scale. If scaled up, it could make a significant contribution to reducing the carbon footprint of steel production.

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