"Baja merupakan material yang paling banyak digunakan di dunia dan menjadi tulang punggung sektor konstruksi serta manufaktur. Produksi baja dilakukan melalui dua jalur utama: Blast Furnace–Basic Oxygen Furnace (BF–BOF) dan Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), dengan 70% produksi global menggunakan jalur BF–BOF. Ketergantungan pada batu bara menjadikan industri ini penyumbang besar emisi CO2. Sebagai solusi, integrasi sumber energi terbarukan seperti biomassa, khususnya biochar, dan inovasi teknologi seperti Direct Reduced Iron (DRI) berbasis hidrogen, mulai dikembangkan untuk mendukung dekarbonisasi sektor ini.
Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk mengkaji perilaku karburisasi pelet DRI dalam atmosfer inert menggunakan berbagai agen karburisasi, dengan target pencapaian kandungan karbon hingga 4,5%. Proses dilakukan dalam tungku vakum “PINK” menggunakan empat jenis karbon: Lignite Coke, Coke Breeze, Biochar, dan Forest Residue Fitter. Analisis dilakukan terhadap lelehan logam, slag, dan abu untuk mengevaluasi efisiensi pelarutan karbon dan karakteristik hasil samping.
Hasil percobaan menunjukkan bahwa Biochar dan Coke Breeze mampu meningkatkan karbon mendekati 4,5%, sementara Forest Residue Fitter sempat mencapai 5% namun tidak valid akibat kontaminasi grafit. Urutan laju pelarutan karbon dari yang tercepat ke terlambat adalah: Coke Breeze Percobaan 1 > Biochar > Coke Breeze Percobaan 2 > Lignite Coke > Forest Residue Fitter Percobaan 1 > Forest Residue Fitter Percobaan 2. Perbedaan ini disebabkan oleh variasi komposisi kimia dan sifat fisik tiap agen karbon.
Komposisi slag juga mempengaruhi efisiensi karburisasi. Kandungan CaO tinggi menjaga alkalinitas dan fluiditas slag, sementara kandungan SiO2 tinggi dapat meningkatkan viskositas dan menghambat pelarutan karbon. Biochar terbukti efektif dengan kandungan abu rendah yang meminimalkan hambatan difusi karbon. Hasil ini mendukung potensi Biochar sebagai agen karburisasi berkelanjutan dalam industri baja ramah lingkungan.
Steel is the most widely used material in the world and forms the backbone of the construction and manufacturing sectors. Steel production is done through two main lines: Blast Furnace-Basic Oxygen Furnace (BF-BOF) and Electric Arc Furnace (EAF), with 70% of global production using the BF-BOF route. Reliance on coal makes the industry a large contributor to CO2 emissions. As a solution, the integration of renewable energy sources such as biomass, particularly biochar, and technological innovations such as hydrogen-based Direct Reduced Iron (DRI), is being developed to support the decarbonization of this sector.This study aims to examine the carburization behavior of DRI pellets in an inert atmosphere using various carburizing agents, with the target of achieving a carbon content of up to 4.5%. The process was carried out in a “PINK” vacuum furnace using four types of carbon: Lignite Coke, Coke Breeze, Biochar, and Forest Residue Fitter. Analyses were conducted on the metal melt, slag, and ash to evaluate the carbon dissolution efficiency and by-product characteristics.Experimental results showed that Biochar and Coke Breeze were able to increase carbon close to 4.5%, while Forest Residue Fitter reached 5% but was invalidated due to graphite contamination. The order of carbon dissolution rate from fastest to slowest is: Coke Breeze Trial 1 > Biochar > Coke Breeze Trial 2 > Lignite Coke > Forest Residue Fitter Trial 1 > Forest Residue Fitter Trial 2. This difference is due to variations in the chemical composition and physical properties of each carbon agent.Slag composition also affects the carburization efficiency. High CaO content maintains the alkalinity and fluidity of the slag, while high SiO2 content can increase viscosity and inhibit carbon dissolution. Biochar proved to be effective with low ash content which minimizes carbon diffusion barriers. These results support the potential of Biochar as a sustainable carburizing agent in the green steel industry."