Biolron process shows potential for low-carbon steel making

The Biolron process uses lignocellulosic biomass such as wheat straw, sugar cane bagasse, canola sticks or barley straw instead of coking coal. The biomass is blended with iron ore and heated by a combination of combusting gases released by the biomass and high-efficiency microwaves, which can be powered by renewable energy.

The process converts Pilbara iron ore to metallic iron for the steelmaking process, providing a potentially cost-effective option to cut industry carbon emissions.

The process has been tested extensively in Germany by a project team from Rio Tinto, Nottingham’s Microwave Process Engineering Group, and Metso Outotec.

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In a statement, Chris Dodds, head of the Department of Chemical and Environmental Engineering at Nottingham University, said: “It has been incredibly exciting to have the opportunity to take part in this research that, if developed to a commercial scale, has the potential to have an immense impact on decarbonisation within the steel production process. We look forward to continuing to support Rio Tinto as it enters the next phase of testing and hope that it yields just as much success.”