Replacement of Metallurgical Coke with Bio-Coke from Coconut Shells

A comparison was made between the properties of bio-coke (BIC) obtained from briquetted coconut shell biochar and metallurgical coke. The aim was to explore the possibility of using BIC or its blends with metallurgical coke as a potential reducing agent in blast furnaces (BFs). Coconut shells were pyrolyzed at different temperatures (between 200 and 450 °C) to produce biochar. Effects of briquetting temperature (150, 250, and 350 °C) on the mechanical properties of the BIC produced were also studied. The physicochemical characteristics and mechanical strength of the materials have been reported. Reactivity was studied using thermogravimetric analysis and the ECE-INCAR method to determine the effect of BIC addition on metallurgical coke. The mechanical strength of the BIC was lower than that of the metallurgical coke, whereas the reactivity was higher. The results suggested that BIC cannot be used as a total replacement for coal-coke in a BF. Nevertheless, the blend with 5 wt % BIC showed potential as an alternative to reduce the usage of coal-coke.