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Integrating innovation and environmental responsibility has become important in pursuing sustainable industrial practices in the contemporary world. These twin imperatives have stimulated research into developing methods that optimize industrial processes, enhancing efficiency and effectiveness while mitigating undesirable ecological impacts. This objective is exemplified by the emergence of biochar derived from the thermo-chemical transformation of biomass. This review examines biochar production methods and their potential applications across various aspects of the iron and steel industries (ISI). The technical, economic, and sustainable implications of integrating biochar into the ISI were explored. Slow pyrolysis and hydrothermal carbonization are the most efficient methods for higher biochar yield (25–90%). Biochar has several advantages- higher heating value (30–32 MJ/kg), more porosity (58.22%), and significantly larger surface area (113 m2/g) compared to coal and coke. However, the presence of biochar often reduces fluidity in a coal-biochar mixture. The findings highlighted that biochar production and implementation in ISI often come with higher costs, primarily due to the higher expense of substitute fuels compared to traditional fossil fuels. The economic viability and societal desirability of biochar are highly uncertain and vary significantly based on factors such as location, feedstock type, production scale, and biochar pricing, among others. Furthermore, biomass and biochar supply chain is another important factor which determines its large scale implementation. Despite these challenges, there are opportunities to reduce emissions from BF-BOF operations by utilizing biochar technologies. Overall, the present study explored integrating diverse biochar production methods into the ISI aiming to contribute to the ongoing research on sustainable manufacturing practices, underscoring their significance in shaping a more environmentally conscious future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Co-pyrolysis of lignocellulosic biomass and coal is considered as an effective way to reduce the carbon footprint. Bamboo is being a potential source of bioenergy particularly in the North East States of India; the thermal performance and synergetic behaviour of co-pyrolysis of bamboo with high ash Indian coal are investigated at various heating rates in a thermogravimetric analyser. Three different blend samples (25% bamboo with 75% coal, 50% bamboo with 50% coal and 75% bamboo with 25% coal) are used. The kinetic parameters are determined using three isoconversional methods: Friedman, Ozawa-Flynn-Wall and Kissinger–Akahira–Sunose. Average activation energy for all three blend samples is found in the range of 121–253 kJ/mol. Co-pyrolysis of all three blend samples have revealed some synergistic effect. However, the blend containing 25% of bamboo has shown the highest synergetic effect in terms of thermodynamic parameters. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Electro-valorization of biomass-derived chemicals has ensured sustainable production of value-added products, an effective approach for reducing carbon footprint, through renewable energy. Electrochemical oxidation and reduction reactions in aqueous media using H 2 O as a potential source for active hydrogenated and oxygenated species fulfill the purpose. In this study, Ru─Co 2 P nanorods are explored as a bifunctional electrocatalyst toward valorization of Organics at basic media. The in-situ electrogenerated Co 3+ and Co 4+ species act as active oxidants toward product selectivity. An overpotential of 68 mV is found for hydrogen evolution reaction (1 m NaOH) with Ru─Co 2 P. Further, used as cathode, Ru─Co 2 P effectively reduces furfuraldehyde to furfuryl alcohol and p-nitrophenol to p-aminophenol. Ru doping enables ease of formation of active species both for reduction and oxidation, faster charge transfer between catalyst to absorbates. Density Functional Theory calculation establishes Ru incorporation in Co 2 P surface results in enhanced adsorption of substrates. Ru doping modulates the electronic structure of Co 2 P which changes the density of states resulting in faster water dissociation and water splitting. To reach 10 mA cm -2 current density only 1.6 V is required for water electrolysis, whereas 1.4 V is enough for substrate-paired electrolysis with simultaneous oxidation of benzyl alcohol and reduction of p-nitro phenol., (© 2024 Wiley‐VCH GmbH.)