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Residual Material from the Pulp and Paper Industry Successfully Used in Steel Manufacturing
There are valuable by-products from the pulp and paper industry that can be utilized in steel manufacturing. This has been demonstrated by successful experiments in the now concluded OSMET project.
The Vinnova-funded OSMET 3.0 project, led by Chuan Wang from Swerim, aimed to verify concepts developed in OSMET 1.0 and 2.0. Specifically, it involved scaling up experiments using residual products in steel manufacturing from laboratory to pilot and industrial scale:
Residual products from Essity were transported to SMA Minerals, where briquettes were manufactured; parts of the primary lime fine in the briquettes were replaced with the residual product fly ash. The briquettes were then used in the EAF furnace for steel production at Outokumpu. The goal of the research project was to replace 20 percent of the lime in the briquettes with fly ash.
Successful Research with Appetite for More
The experiments proved to be successful – so successful that the process now continues beyond the scope of OSMET, according to Niina Leskinen, sustainability engineer at Outokumpu.
“The more we can reduce the primary lime, the more we reduce our carbon footprint, so now we continue our experiments with briquettes containing 50 percent residual products from the paper industry. We hope to see if we can continue to maintain the same quality of steel.”
The OSMET 3.0 project involved 11 different partners from both industry and academia, and as coordinator, Chuan Wang, at the research institute Swerim, is satisfied.
“This project was carried out within Vinnova's so-called UDI, challenge-driven innovation program. And there really have been challenges that we have overcome. It feels very good that Outokumpu is continuing the trials, and I will of course follow the results with interest.”
Hydrochar Important for the Climate Goal 2050
Yu-Chiao Lu at KTH, who received her doctorate within the framework of the OSMET project, examined the potential of various bioproducts as so-called hydrochar.
“We have tested food waste, green waste, and residual products from the pulp and paper industry. New materials require new ways of thinking within metallurgy. Everything can be used but the quality varies, and thus also the best use cases.”
Chuan Wang believes that a success factor in OSMET 3.0 is that all parties have had a strong sense of win-win. The pulp industry can see residual products come to use. Manufacturers of briquettes have a new potential market. And the steel industry sees the possibility to reduce its carbon footprint.
“Hydrochar within the steel industry is still in a developmental phase, but the goal is of course for the circular industry to be both an environmental and a business-economic win for the industry.”
Nina Leskinen confirms the necessity of finding many different ways to reduce carbon emissions.
“We want to continue to be at the forefront of producing stainless steel with as little climate impact as possible, and the results from OSMET are one of the paths we are pursuing. The climate goal involves Outokumpu's ambition to achieve carbon neutrality by 2050. Time passes faster than we think.”
Photos
- Briquettes ready at SMA Minerals, where 50 percent of the lime has been replaced by fly ash.
- Niina Leskinen, sustainability engineer at Outokumpu.
- Chuan Wang, Swerim, project leader and coordinator for the OSMET project.
- Yu-Chiao Lu, researcher at KTH.
More information
For more information about OSMET: coordinator Chuan Wang, chuan.wang@swerim.se