Abstract
Utilization of local-based waste materials can be a challenge due to the resource’s limitations. This study investigated the utilization of rubber tree bark (RTB) as a reductant for mill scale. RTB was blended with coal into five ratios, namely RTB#1–RTB#5. The blends were heated at 1000 °C under argon for 1 h. The char was mixed with scale to produce a carbon-mill scale composite pellet (CCP) with a 1.5 C/O molar ratio. The reduction of CCP was carried out in a tube furnace at 1550 °C for 30 min under argon flowing at 1 L/min. The reduced Fe droplets separate clearly from the residues. The CCP produced from blends RTB#1–RTB#5 shows better reduction with metal of 35.28–39.82 wt.%. The degree of metallization (DOM) ranges between 75.25–84.51%, which is two times higher than that of coal. RTB#3 shows the optimum condition with the highest DOM. CaO in RTB plays a role in forming an ash layer on the metal surface and reacting with Fe2O3 to form a new phase. Utilization of our local-based biomass, such as RTB as a reductant for mill scale, is possible. The consumption of fossil fuel in the process could be decreased by 30%, thus also the production cost.
Highlights
Academic Editor: Geoffrey BrooksReceived: 22 September 2021Accepted: 27 October 2021Published: 30 October 2021 Publisher’sNote: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland
Kongkarat et al [5] investigated the interactions of EAF slag with polyethylene terephthalate (PET) and polyurethane (PU) blended with metallurgical coke at 1550 °C to determine the role of additional chemical elements in the polymers on the carbon/slag interactions, PET (C-H-O), and PU (C-H-O-N)
The metal surfaces for the carbon-mill scale composite pellet (CCP) produced from rubber tree bark (RTB)#1–RTB#4 were observed to be partially covered by the ash layer, while full coverage was seen in the cases of coal, RTB, and RTB#5
Summary
Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations. Coal and coke are conventional carbon sources used in ironmaking and steelmaking industries as a fuel, FeO reductant, slag foaming and liquid steel carburizing agents. The consumption of these fossil fuels worldwide in these industries is quite high, leading to greenhouse gas emissions and various environmental problems. The combination of cellulose and rubber make RTB unique from the other well-known biomass types It has high volatiles and ash oxide (CaO) content that could have the possibility to be utilized as a carbon and limestone resource. The effect of RTB content in the carbonaceous blends on the interaction with mill scale was determined and the possibility of utilizing rubber tree bark biomass as a carbon source in steelmaking process was evaluated
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