Short answer: metallurgical biocarbon is charcoal made by slow pyrolysis of wood and processed to meet steel-mill limits on fixed carbon, ash, moisture and sulphur. Electric arc furnaces (EAFs) still need carbon to form foamy slag and adjust chemistry, and biocarbon lets them supply that carbon from biomass instead of fossil coke.
Why an electric furnace still needs carbon
An EAF melts scrap with electricity, but it adds carbon in two ways: charge carbon loaded with the scrap, and injection carbon blown into the bath to create foamy slag that protects the furnace walls and improves energy efficiency. Today most of that carbon is anthracite or petroleum coke.
The specification mills buy to
- Fixed carbon at or above 80% for charge carbon and 85% for injection carbon.
- Ash below 8% for charge carbon and below 5% for injection.
- Low moisture, low volatile matter, and very low sulphur and phosphorus.
Clean wood residue is naturally low in ash and sulphur, which is why it makes a good starting material when the pyrolysis is controlled.
Why demand is rising in Ontario
Algoma Steel in Sault Ste. Marie began decommissioning its blast furnace in January 2026 and expects a second EAF in the second half of 2026, completing its move to electric steelmaking. Federal industrial carbon pricing rises from $95 per tonne in 2026 to $115 in 2030. Together these make low-carbon furnace inputs more valuable to Ontario mills.
How Bio Terrava approaches it
We evaluate each feedstock, test it at bench scale, and run a pilot that produces bulk sample lots for furnace trials before building a commercial plant. That sequence is how mills qualify a new carbon source, so we built the facility plan around it.