Producing iron by electrolysis rather than conventional smelting could prevent the emission of a billion tonnes of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere every year.
A magnet holds a droplet of pure molten iron made by electrolysis (Image: Donald Sadoway)
There are difficulties to be overcome. A suitable non-carbon anode material and ways to produce enough electricity without fossil carbon. And the economics of it at the moment are not favourable, but carbon taxes could change that and falling prices for 'green' electricity could help. It may be that the non-carbon anode issue is the more difficult to solve;
...sceptical about the likelihood of a practical carbon-free anode, since the aluminium industry has been trying for years to develop one and still has not.
Electrolysis may one day provide 'green iron' - tech - 30 August 2006 - New Scientist Tech
Filed in: smelting by electrolysis?
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