BIORESTEEL

Many thanks to Maurizio Zanforlin, the R&D Manager at ORI Martin Group, for organizing a fantastic BioReSteel project meeting in Brescia, Italy, on November 12–13, 2024. ? During the meeting, we reviewed tasks related to the characterization of biomass residues, hydrochar development, phosphorus extraction, and experimental work using hydrochar and its composite briquettes for various applications, including slag foaming, self-reduction, and steel carburization. “I foresee great success for BioReSteel,” commented Loris Bianco, the Research Manager at Pittini Group. ? BioReSteel is an EU RFCS project coordinated by Chuan Wang from Swerim AB. The project focuses on innovating a biocarbon production concept for EAF steelmaking, emphasizing hydrochar from low-value biomass through hydrothermal carbonization, and it covers the entire value chain of green steel production via EAF. ? Follow the BioReSteel project for more detailed information and insights. ? The BioReSteel-project involves multiple partners, including Swerim AB (Coordinator), SSAB, RWTH Aachen University (RWTH-IOB), Ingelia, Pittini Group (FENO), RINA Consulting - Centro Sviluppo Materiali, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, CELSA GROUP (Global Steel Wire), ORI Martin Group, and Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)-ITQ.

In the last Annual Event organised by ESTEP (H2 for Green Steel meets A Circular Economy driven by the European Steel)?in?Linz?- Austria, from?29 October to 31 October 2024 results of activity carried out by RINA have been presented. Biochar produced by Hydrothermal Carbonization (HTC) is a valuable substitute of fossil coal for steelmaking. The authors of the presentation are Valentina Alemanno, Filippo Cirilli and Daphne Mirabile

Members of the BioReSteel project participated in the fifth European Phosphorus Conference (ESPC-5) in Spain. The BioReSteel concept was presented to produce a advanced biofuel for the Electric Arc Furnace while recovering phosphorus from residual biomass. BioReSteel aims to produce phosphorus as phosphate in high quality to meet the European Fertilizer regulation 2019/1009: a decontamination task has been included in the working program of the project. At the ESPC5 several experts insisted that the quality of the recovered phosphorus material is one of the most important characteristics. Hence, the BioReSteel concept has been validated successfully at the congress. In addition, it was confirmed that there is a real market demand for a BioReSteel phosphorus fertilizer, especially for organic farming. The BioReSteel-project is supported by the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) and involves multiple partners, including Swerim AB, SSAB, RWTH-IOB, Ingelia, FENO, RINA Consulting - Centro Sviluppo Materiali, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, CELSA-GSW, ORI Martin Group, and Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV)-ITQ.

A great presentation of Lu Yu-Chiao, KTH Royal Institute of Technology at?EUROSLAG 2024 in Spain. She shared insights about her on-going research in frame of BIORESTEEL project regarding the use of biochar composite agglomerates to promote slag foaming in the EAF process, which supports the green transition of the steel industry.?

Last week the biocarbon seminar was successfully held at Jernkontoret in Stockholm, Sweden. The event attracted significant interest from the Swedish metal industry, with major stakeholders such as SSAB, Alleima, Ovako Group, LKAB, H?gan?s AB, and Varg?n Alloys AB in attendance. We were also joined by technology developers in biocarbon treatment and handling, including Carbomax AB and @GRu Konsult, as well as representatives from biomass residue suppliers like SCA. The seminar provided a platform for robust discussions among technology suppliers, academic researchers, SMEs, and end-users. These conversations focused on the development and application of biocarbon in the industry. Key takeaways from the event included: –?Volatility of biomass quality. –?Economic feasibility of biocarbon utilization in the metal industry. –?Key properties of biocarbon for the metal industry. –?Supply chain of biocarbon is the largest challenge for the metal/steel industry. –?Challenges of biocarbon storage, handling and transportation. –?ISO standards for biocarbon applicable to the metal and steel industry. “Thanks, all presenters to this event, Lu Yu-Chiao from KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Thomas Echterhof from RWTH Aachen University, Filippo Cirilli from RINA Consulting - Centro Sviluppo Materiali and Martin Hitzl from Ingelia. For sure, biocarbon will play an important role for the green transition of steel and metal production. I am glad to see that our research in this area growing from the domestic, the OSMET project, to a European level, the BioReSteel project, says Chuan Wang, senior researcher and project manager from Swerim AB.” OSMET project is led by Swerim, financed by Vinnova. The project partners include KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Outokumpu, H?gan?s, SMA Mineral , Gru Konsult, Ingelia, Lule? University of Technology, RISE Research Institutes of Sweden, Stora Enso, and Essity. We extend our heartfelt thanks to Christer Ryman, Research Manager at Jernkontoret, for his excellent hosting and chairmanship of the event. BioReSteel is an EU RFCS project, coordinated by Swerim. The project consortium consists of Swerim AB, SSAB, RWTH Aachen University, Ingelia, Pittini Group (FENO), RINA Consulting – Centro Sviluppo Materiali, KTH, CELSA GROUP, ORI Martin Group, and Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV). #research #biocarbon #biomass

The BioReSteel project meeting took place on May 28, 2024, at?KTH Royal Institute of Technology?in Stockholm, Sweden. The discussions focused on identifying the most suitable biomass residues for biocarbon production, key quality factors limiting biocarbon usage in EAF steelmaking, the role of biocarbon in the EAF process, and methods for producing bio-iron oxides briquettes. BioReSteel is pioneering a biocarbon production concept tailored for EAF steelmaking, utilizing hydrochar derived from low-value biomass via hydrothermal carbonization. This innovative approach transforms underutilized, wet materials into valuable resources for steel production. The project is supported by the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) and involves multiple partners, including?Swerim AB,?SSAB,?RWTH Aachen University,?Ingelia,?Pittini Group?(FENO),?RINA Consulting - Centro Sviluppo Materiali, KTH,?CELSA GROUP,?ORI Martin Group, and?Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV). For more details about the project, please feel free to reach out to?Chuan Wang, the BioReSteel coordinator from Swerim AB.

The BioReSteel project meeting took place on May 28, 2024, at KTH Royal Institute of Technology in Stockholm, Sweden. The discussions focused on identifying the most suitable biomass residues for biocarbon production, key quality factors limiting biocarbon usage in EAF steelmaking, the role of biocarbon in the EAF process, and methods for producing bio-iron oxides briquettes. BioReSteel is pioneering a biocarbon production concept tailored for EAF steelmaking, utilizing hydrochar derived from low-value biomass via hydrothermal carbonization. This innovative approach transforms underutilized, wet materials into valuable resources for steel production. The project is supported by the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) and involves multiple partners, including Swerim AB, SSAB, RWTH Aachen University, Ingelia, Pittini Group (FENO), RINA Consulting - Centro Sviluppo Materiali, KTH, CELSA GROUP, ORI Martin Group, and Universitat Politècnica de València (UPV). For more details about the project, please feel free to reach out to Chuan Wang, the BioReSteel coordinator from Swerim AB. #research #eafsteelmaking #eafprocess #steelmaking #biocarbonproduction