Biomass and Renewables as Alternative Energy Sources and Reductants in the Minerals Industry

Minerals processing operations use a significant quantity of fossil carbon to provide energy and as reductant. Greenhouse gas emissions from the use of this fossil carbon contribute to the global increase in anthropogenic CO2 emissions to the atmosphere. In the spirit of fostering thinking about a step change in this situation, this paper explores opportunities for the use of sustainable carbon from biomass sources in a range of mineral processing operations. The exploration shows that many common processes are contenders for fossil carbon replacement and that feasible scientific research by minerals processing technologists would add to deeper understanding of the potential for a sustainable bio-carbon based industry. It is also shown that there are many dilemmas on the social, environmental and economic fronts to be solved before a biomass based industry could become a reality.