Publication | Peer reviewed papers | Potentiale, Bioenergiesysteme, Logistik
Co-Injection of coal and carbonized wood into a blast furnace – assessing the blend suitability for direct substitution
Published June 2026
Citation: Deutsch R, Kienzl N, Stocker H, Strasser C, Krammer G. Co-Injection of coal and carbonized wood into a blast furnace – assessing the blend suitability for direct substitution. Chemical Engineering and Processing - Process Intensification. June2026.224:110798
Abstract
The need to cut global CO2 emissions is reiterated by scholarship and politics around the globe. Especially European industries, such as the iron and steel industry, are challenged to contribute to this societal endeavour while maintaining production volumes and competing on the world market. Carbonized wood, i.e. bioreductant, as a blast furnace injectant is proposed as a coal substitute providing the opportunity for a non-disruptive emission reduction. This study presents the results of a perhaps pioneering test campaign and the advised analytical methods: the authors are not aware of bioreductant injection tests at modern coke blast furnaces using such high quantities and blend proportions. The bioreductant was tailored to have a carbon content > 65 % for sufficient specific energy input, and to display a bulk density of 430 kg·m-3 upon pulverization, as well as a mean particle sphericity of 0.84 and a minimum fluidization velocity of below 1.2 cm·s-1 to enable proper pneumatic conveying. Injection tests were performed with 400 tons of bioreductant in proportions varying from 25 to 60 % in blends with coal without requiring excessive process adaptions going beyond usual process control. Implications on dust generation during comminution and on blast furnace permeability were found.