International Journal of Iron & Steel Society of Iran

International Journal of Iron & Steel Society of Iran

Canola Meal–Derived Biochar as a Renewable Carbon Source for Reducing Fossil Carbon Use and Greenhouse Gas Emissions in Ferrosilicon and Iron Production

Document Type : Research Paper

Authors
Materials Engineering Group, Golpayegan College of Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Golpayegan, Iran
10.22034/ijissi.2026.2080945.1342
Abstract
This study investigates the feasibility of using canola meal as a feedstock for biochar production. After drying and milling, the samples were subjected to slow pyrolysis at 350 and 500°C, and the physicochemical properties of the resulting biochars were characterized using CHNS, FTIR, Raman spectroscopy, TG/DTG, and DSC analyses. CHNS results showed that the biochar produced at 350°C contained 48.75% carbon and exhibited a higher H/C ratio compared to the 500°C sample, indicating the presence of remaining organic compounds and a less aromatic structure. FTIR analysis confirmed the reduction of C=C bands and the increase of carbonyl groups with rising temperature. Raman spectra revealed that the carbon structure of the 350°C biochar was predominantly amorphous (D1 type), with an increased ID/IG ratio reflecting greater structural disorder induced by pyrolysis. TG/DTG and DSC results demonstrated that the canola meal biochar possesses suitable thermal stability, requiring lower thermal degradation energy than fossil carbon materials. Considering its carbon content, negligible sulfur level, and favorable thermal resistance, canola meal can serve as a sustainable and renewable source for biochar production and a partial substitute for fossil carbon in metallurgical industries such as ferrosilicon and direct-reduced iron production.
Keywords
Subjects

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