A Review on Use of Biomass as An Alternative to Coal for Sustainable Ironmaking

Steel is the most important engineering and construction material used globally. However, huge amount of CO2 emission, >7% of the total global emissions, from the iron- and steelmaking is posing an eminent threat to the climate goals around the globe. This review article presents a broad picture of historical development, present scenario and possible future for iron and steel making which have to address the binary issues of reduction in CO2 emission and sustainability. The article shows how iron making, started with charcoal as a reductant, shifted to fossil coal and again it may be switched back to charcoal sustainably. The article mainly focuses on application of biomass as an alternative to coal in different ironmaking routes. An in-depth review of the state of the art on application of biomass as an alternative to coal in ironmaking is presented. Furthermore, it explores possible application of biomass as coal substitute in different components of conventional (i.e., BF-BOF) route and alternative ironmaking route. Biomass being carbon neutral will be potentially useful in short to mid-term to decarbonize the iron and steel industry.