Babassu charcoal: A sulfurless renewable thermo-reducing feedstock for steelmaking

The physical and chemical properties of babassu coconut following heat treatment at temperatures of up to 1000°C are reported. Results for compressive strength, density, granulometry, heat of combustion and ash content suggest that babassu charcoal from unbroken coconuts could be used as a substitute for metallurgical coke as a reducing agent in blast furnaces. This material is one of the few which could substitute directly metallurgical coke in high capacity blast furnaces without the need for briquetting.