Turning End-of-Life Tires into Sustainable Carbon for Electric Arc Furnaces

The new project R-Carbon4EAF, funded by Vinnova’s "Swedish Metals and Minerals" program, is exploring the use of end-of-life (EOL) tires as a sustainable carbon source for Electric Arc Furnaces (EAFs) in steelmaking. This collaboration between KTH, EnviGas AB, Ovako Sweden AB, Outokumpu Europe Oy, and Stena Recycling AB aims to reduce CO2 emissions in the steel industry while promoting a circular economy.

Currently, most carbon materials used in EAFs come from fossil sources like coal and coke, contributing to CO2 emissions. While biogenic char from biomass pyrolysis has been explored as an alternative, challenges such as high reactivity, low density, and competing demands for biomass remain.

EOL tires offer a promising alternative due to their overflow and environmental impact. By investigating pyrolyzed EOL char as an alternative to fossil-based carbon, the project will contribute to more sustainable steel production. The use of pyrolysis oil and gas from EOL tires could also help lower transportation fuel prices while being more environmentally friendly. In addition, the project will drive innovation in pyrolysis technology and enhance Sweden's industrial competence in the field.

The initiative aims to bring together stakeholders from various sectors, including waste management, pyrolysis industry, and steelmaking, to prepare for a scalable solution. A pre-study will be conducted before the full project is launched to ensure a collaborative approach to developing a sustainable, circular solution for the steel industry.

More information can be found on the project’s website: https://www.vinnova.se/p/aterv...

Stay tuned as we work towards a greener, more sustainable future for steel production.