Project Status: Complete
Project Participants: CSIRO, AMIRA, Nyrstar
Project Leader: Michael Somerville (CSIRO)
Large amounts of waste biomass are generated each year in rural and regional Australia, in the
agricultural, forestry, sewage and waste treatment industries. By utilising these materials in
metallurgical processes as a substitute for fossil fuels (such as coal and metallurgical coke), the energy
and carbon content and value of the waste materials are recovered. The overall aim of the project is to
develop a regional example of the use of carbonaceous waste materials in metallurgical processes, and
demonstrate its techno-economic feasibility and environmental benefits.
The mid north region of South Australia was selected for this pilot study due to its proximity to timber and wood milling industries, a long established and diversifying agricultural industry, a large regional town, and Port Pirie smelters.
Twelve samples of waste biomass were collected which included forest and saw mill residues, a variety of agricultural residues (such as grape marc, poultry litter, hay and a fast growing reed called Arundo Donax) and industrial fuels including coal and brown coal char. These biomass samples were pyrolysed at 550 degrees Celsius under standard conditions. The resulting charcoal was characterised using various chemical and physical techniques. The results were used to assess the suitability of charcoal produced from biomass residues as a substitute for coal in the Port Pirie slag fuming operations. Charcoal produced from pine wood appeared to be a good candidate for further work in slag reduction and slag fuming.
The success of these project outcomes will require increased awareness on the part of biomass waste producers (farmers, grain handlers, forestry industries, sewerage and waste management industries) and potential customers (metallurgical plant operators) of the benefits of this approach to biomass waste utilisation.