Integration of bio-carbon in the formulation of carbon electrodes for metallurgical processes- Al smelting process

将生物碳整合到冶金工艺（铝冶炼工艺）的碳电极配方中

• 批准号: RGPIN-2017-04827
• 负责人: Alamdari, Houshang
• 金额: $ 2.4万
• 依托单位: Université Laval
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2020
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2020-01-01 至 2021-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=710769
• 关键词: Integration; bio; carbon; formulation; electrodes

This research program aims at developing a process for substituting biochar for petroleum coke in production of carbon electrodes in metallurgical operations, especially in manufacturing of anodes for aluminum electrolysis. Implemented in Canada more than a century ago, aluminum industry today is one of the major Canadian industries, producing 3 Mt/y of primary metal, securing more than 10000 direct and 20000 indirect jobs, and contributing more than 3 B$/y to the economy of the country. Aluminum is conventionally produced by the Hall-Héroult process, involving the electrolysis of alumina, dissolved in molten cryolite. Although the technology is now more than one hundred years old and total aluminum production has grown more than one hundred times within the past fifty years, the process has not changed substantially and carbonaceous materials are still the main ingredients of both anode and cathode. Anode is essentially made of anode grade petroleum coke, and is consumed during the electrolysis process. The spectacular increase of global aluminum production and the shortage of anode grade coke push the industry for seeking alternative carbon sources. At a first glance, biomass-based carbon seems to be a natural solution for this issue, however it does not meet the very strict specifications required for anode. In this research program we intend to explore the possibility of using biochar in anode recipe and to develop an appropriate process in order that biochar meet the industry specifications and eventually be used as an anode ingredient. The escalating production capacity of Al and shortage of petroleum coke as well as the tightening environmental regulations will, sooner or later, force the technology to go toward bio-carbon sources. This implies a deep understanding of biomass structural features and development of appropriate process parameters, making them suitable for anode. This program could provide such an opportunity for the Canadian industry; first by training the HQP and second by providing required knowledge for replacing pet-coke by bio-coke. The latter, with zero carbon footprints, will remove the financial pressure of the carbon tax, while providing an abundant and local source of carbon thus reducing the dependence of the industry to foreign carbon sources. At a time when the price of electricity and environmental issues are major factors influencing the location of new aluminum plants, any technology, which improves the specific energy consumption and GHG footprint of aluminum production, will give a competitive advantage to the country that owns the technology. This fact is even more pronounced if we consider the progressive carbon tax program, approved by the Canadian government. A targeted carbon tax of 50 $/ton CO2 will increase the cost of anode by 180 $/ton. Replacing pet-coke by bio-coke will give a tremendous advantage to the Canadian Aluminum industry.

该研究计划旨在开发一种在冶金操作中生产碳电极时用生物炭替代石油焦的工艺，特别是在铝电解阳极的制造中，该工艺在加拿大实施了一个多世纪，如今铝工业已成为加拿大的主要工业之一。工业，每年生产 3 公吨初级金属，确保超过 10,000 个直接就业机会和 20,000 个间接就业机会，每年为国家经济贡献超过 3 巴西利亚元。铝传统上是通过 Hall-Héroult 工艺生产的，涉及溶解在熔融冰晶石中的氧化铝的电解，尽管该技术已有一百多年的历史，并且铝产量在过去五十年中增长了一百多倍，工艺没有发生实质性变化，阳极和阴极的主要成分仍然是碳质材料，阳极主要由阳极级石油焦制成，并且在电解过程中消耗量巨大。乍一看，生物质碳似乎是解决这个问题的自然方法，但它不符合阳极所需的非常严格的规格。在该研究计划中，我们打算探索在阳极配方中使用生物炭的可能性，并开发适当的工艺，以使生物炭满足行业规范并最终用作阳极成分。 铝产能的不断提升和石油焦的短缺以及日益严格的环境法规迟早将迫使该技术走向生物碳源，这意味着对生物质结构特征的深入理解和适当工艺参数的开发。 ，使它们适合阳极。该计划可以为加拿大工业提供这样的机会；首先通过培训 HQP，其次通过提供用生物焦替代石油焦所需的知识，后者将消除碳足迹。财务压力征收碳税，同时提供丰富的本地碳源，从而减少该行业对外国碳源的依赖。 在电力价格和环境问题成为影响新铝厂选址的主要因素的情况下，任何能够改善铝生产的具体能源消耗和温室气体足迹的技术都将为拥有该技术的国家带来竞争优势如果我们考虑加拿大政府批准的累进碳税计划，每吨二氧化碳征收 50 美元的碳税将使阳极成本增加 180 美元/吨。 -可乐会为加拿大铝工业带来了巨大的优势。