As part of a collaborative project, Boliden, E.ON and Chalmers University has proven the potential for iron sand to be a promising replacement for traditional silica sand in fluidised bed combustion (FBC).
The project, funded by the Swedish Energy Agency, Boliden and E.ON, aims to explore how iron sand can contribute to a more sustainable and efficient combustion process.
Iron sand is a glassy iron silicate aggregate consisting of granulated slag, extracted as a by-product from Boliden Rönnskär’s copper production. New results from a two-week campaign in Chalmers semi-industrial CFB-type research boiler showed that iron sand not only can replace silica sand but also improve combustion results, with reduced CO and NO emissions, Boliden stated.
Going forward, the initiative will evaluate iron sand as bed material in full-scale waste incineration and to design a business model for the material’s introduction on a commercial scale.
Magnus Rydén, Professor in Energy Conversion at Chalmers, said: “This collaboration brings together the expertise of academia, industry and energy sectors to explore innovative solutions for a sustainable future – in this case replacing a non-renewable resource like natural sand with a circular bi-product from the industry. Partnerships like these are nothing but essential for the industry’s transition.”
Peter Johansson, Manager Sales Iron Silicates at Boliden, said: “The use of iron sand as bed material in FBC is promising and could offer significant advantages over common silica sand. This project highlights the potential for a more sustainable future in the combustion industry, and we are excited to take the next steps towards commercial implementation.”