Researchers from India and Australia are developing a method to reduce emissions from steel production using agricultural waste.

Researchers from India and Australia have developed a new approach that can significantly reduce emissions from steel production by partially replacing coal with agricultural waste. The technology, tested in an industrial setting, demonstrates that biomass-based materials can be integrated into steel production processes without compromising productivity, offering a potential path for decarbonization of one of the most carbon-intensive industries in the world.

An Indian and Australian study examines agricultural waste in steelmaking

Australia's national research organization CSIRO and the Indian Institute of Science (IIS) have successfully completed research and development on a method to reduce emissions from steelmaking by partially replacing coal with agricultural waste.

According to the joint statement, this approach can be implemented on an industrial scale, which represents an important step forward in the decarbonization of cast iron and steel production.

The global steel sector accounts for about one tenth of global carbon emissions, making emission reduction technologies increasingly important to the industry.

Rice Husk pellets tested in industrial steel production

In the course of the study, the scientists used pellets of rice husk of local origin as the initial biomass.

The CSIRO team has successfully confirmed the continuous production of syngas derived from biomass used to recover iron ore in a large-scale industrial steel mill.