Sustainable production of high-quality biocoke by bio-oil and 2, 5-furandimethanol from biomass residues depolymerization: A novel solution toward carbon neutrality in steel industry

Coke consumption in the steel industry leads to approximately 10–13 % of global carbon dioxide emissions. While carbon-neutral biochar is a material analogous to coke, the weak mechanical properties of biochar limit it as a desirable substitute for metallurgical coke in the steel industry. Herein, a sustainable pyrolysis-polymerization strategy for converting the Cinnamomum camphora residues into densified high-strength biocoke is developed. 2, 5-furandimethanol (BHMF) derived from Cinnamomum camphora residues pyrolysis promotes the cross-polymerization between biochar and bio-oil for constructing biocoke with cross-link structures. The prepared biocoke exhibits excellent compressive strength (4.7 MPa), coke reactivity index (34.1 %), coke strength after reaction (56.2 %), mechanical durability (89.28 %), and higher heating value (33.79 MJ/kg), rivaling second-grade metallurgical coke. A negative carbon emission calculation demonstrates that a 20 % substitution of biocoke for 1 t of iron production can reduce CO₂ emissions by 273.96 kg, which is equivalent to reducing 33.7 kg of metallurgical coke employment. This work offers an eco-friendly method to produce biocoke with excellent mechanical properties and provides insights into its potential as a sustainable alternative of metallurgical coke for low-carbon production of steel industry.