A partial replacement of the coke used in the blast furnaces with the solid product of biomass pyrolysis (biochar) would contribute to significantly reduce CO2 emissions associated to the metallurgic industry. However, the introduction of biochar could affect the standard operation of the blast furnaces since its chemical an physical characteristics may differ significantly from those typical of coke fed to these types of furnaces (density, calorific value, ash content and composition, mechanical strength, etc.). The critical limit for coke replacement depends on the type of furnace as well as on the chemical and physical characteristics of biochar. The idea underpinning the present work is to integrate pyrolysis for biochar production with contaminated sites restoration through biomass (phytoremediation), thus increasing the energetic and environmental sustainability of the whole production chain. Biomasses from a Pb contaminated site were harvested, collected and characterized in terms of agronomic parameters. Then biochar samples were produced exploring different pyrolysis operating conditions. A rich set of classical and advanced analytical techniques supported the whole activity in order to obtain detailed information on the physical and chemical properties of produced biochar in dependence on production methodologies. A particular care was given to identify the best procedure capable of sequestering Pb in the biochar, thus reducing its leakage caused by the devolatilization during the pyrolytic treatment.
Biochar from Lead Contaminated Biomasses as Coke Substitute in Metallurgy
CM Grottola;P Giudicianni;R Ragucci
2021
Abstract
A partial replacement of the coke used in the blast furnaces with the solid product of biomass pyrolysis (biochar) would contribute to significantly reduce CO2 emissions associated to the metallurgic industry. However, the introduction of biochar could affect the standard operation of the blast furnaces since its chemical an physical characteristics may differ significantly from those typical of coke fed to these types of furnaces (density, calorific value, ash content and composition, mechanical strength, etc.). The critical limit for coke replacement depends on the type of furnace as well as on the chemical and physical characteristics of biochar. The idea underpinning the present work is to integrate pyrolysis for biochar production with contaminated sites restoration through biomass (phytoremediation), thus increasing the energetic and environmental sustainability of the whole production chain. Biomasses from a Pb contaminated site were harvested, collected and characterized in terms of agronomic parameters. Then biochar samples were produced exploring different pyrolysis operating conditions. A rich set of classical and advanced analytical techniques supported the whole activity in order to obtain detailed information on the physical and chemical properties of produced biochar in dependence on production methodologies. A particular care was given to identify the best procedure capable of sequestering Pb in the biochar, thus reducing its leakage caused by the devolatilization during the pyrolytic treatment.I documenti in IRIS sono protetti da copyright e tutti i diritti sono riservati, salvo diversa indicazione.
