Recently the Vallourec, company in the steel industry with several innovative application areas, developed in Brazil, a pioneer plant in Pompeu (MG). This plant, that works with a unique technology, called Carboval, for charcoal production, vital element for this and other steel industries. One of the elements generated in this production is a Bio-oil, used as an additive in biofuels, and that the biO3 Consulting guided to obtain Certification ISCC Plus.
O ISCC Plus
The certification ISCC PLUS is a voluntary scheme applicable to the bioeconomy and circular economy for food, feed, chemical products, plastics, packaging, textiles and renewable raw materials derived from a process that uses renewable energy sources. O ISCC PLUS covers the same certification requirements as ISCC EU, but can be customized to meet the needs of different markets or specific applications. All types of biomass, waste and waste, non-biological renewable and recycled carbon materials can be certified by the ISCC PLUS.
In addition to the main requirements of the ISCC PLUS, O ISCC provides the option to adapt the certificates ISCC PLUS to specific market requirements through voluntary add-ons. Depending on the respective add-on, they can be applied to the agricultural production area and to the entire supply chain on a voluntary basis. Modular approach ensures compliance with different market requirements and continuous improvement. All voluntary add-ons can be found on the ISCC website.
Vallourec and the Carboval process
A Vallourec is a leader in the production of seamless steel tubes and hollow profiles for the industrial market, in a full range of different qualities, dimensions and formats, with local production in the Americas, Europe and Asia. Its steel tubes and hollow sections bring added value to various markets ranging from steel construction to automotive and transportation, from mechanical engineering to defense and security.
Although the Vallourec is mostly a steel company, with highly specialized production and a wide range of applications in the most diverse sectors, Here we will highlight the company's bioenergy sector, which has obtained surprising and disruptive results and products for the production chain.
If on the one hand, it is committed to producing specific tubular sections for biomass plants, that increase the efficiency and use of this energy source, seeking to reduce expenses and waste with the use of material unsuitable for the purpose of these plants and therefore increasing their effectiveness, a Vallourec now takes a further step in the pioneering production of Bio-oil, as a byproduct of its new industrial process for charcoal production, totally ecological.
The new plant Vallourec represents a major advance in the commitment to zero the carbon footprint of steelmaking processes, since it produces charcoal – from its renewable eucalyptus forests – much faster (from 16 days to 16 hours), without the emission of methane and taking advantage of 95% of the energy potential contained in wood.
“A Carboval is an exclusive continuous carbonization technology patented by Vallourec. It has great potential to revolutionize the energy sector, contributing to the challenges of reducing the Group’s greenhouse gas emissions”, a company Bertrand Frischmann, Director of Operations for the Americas at Vallourec.
In addition to a technological process far superior to the conventional one in the production of charcoal, the oven Carboval is also innovative for generating extremely useful and ecological by-products, highlighting an organic herbicide, the pyroligneous extract, and also a Bio-oil, used in the fuel industry, chemical and food.
This Bio-oil was the subject of certification ISCC, in a pioneering process with few or perhaps no similar examples on the rest of the planet, of which the biO3 consulting is proud to have taken part.
The importance of Vegetable Charcoal in reducing the carbon footprint
Charcoal plays a significant role in industry and the environment. Let's explore its benefits and applications:
Origin and Production Process:
- Charcoal is obtained through the controlled burning of wood, in a process called pyrolysis.
- During pyrolysis, wood is burned with low oxygen supply, resulting in charcoal.
Applications in Industry:
- Charcoal is widely used in the production of pig iron, an essential component in steel manufacturing.
- Represents of 60% a 70% of the total cost of pig iron production.
- Its superior quality compared to mineral coal contributes to the appreciation of products on the market.
Environmental Advantages:
- Charcoal does not contain sulfur in its chemical composition, which improves the quality of pig iron and steel produced.
- Furthermore, It is a renewable source and emits fewer pollutants than mineral coal.
Economic and Social Impact:
- The planted tree sector, responsible for the production of charcoal, contributes significantly to the Brazilian economy.
- In 2018, participated in 1,3% in the National GDP and 6,9% no PIB industrial, generating direct and indirect jobs.
Challenges and Considerations:
- Excessive use of charcoal can lead to deforestation.
- It is important to balance industrial demand with sustainable forest management practices.
In short, charcoal plays a crucial role in the industry, offering economic and environmental benefits. Its conscious use is essential to guarantee a sustainable future.
The opportunities and challenges of Bio-oil
O Bio-oil is produced from biomass pyrolysis, which involves burning lignocellulosic materials at high temperatures and can be obtained from agricultural waste (such as sugarcane bagasse and rice straw) and forestry (such as sawdust and tree bark)
Among its properties and challenges in its use, It has been observed that it is soluble in polar solvents, but unstable, may undergo polymerization and condensation over time, however, it is a renewable energy alternative that generates low amounts of pollutants
Environmental Sustainability:
- The use of agricultural waste, like a coconut shell, contributes to waste reduction and promotes the circular economy.
- The burning of Bio-oil emits fewer greenhouse gases, reducing the carbon footprint in aviation
Advantages of Biofuels:
- Biofuels represent an energy alternative to reduce global warming and diversify supply.
- Among the main advantages are the low emission of CO2 into the atmosphere and the contribution to reducing the greenhouse effect.
Challenges:
The large-scale production of biofuels is still a challenge in relation to fossil fuels as it is necessary to develop CO2 chemical conversion processes in a sustainable and competitive way.
In this way the process Carboval represents a notable advance towards a Net Zero policy and the construction of sustainable and ecological processes.
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