Value Proposition
· Achieves a tenfold improvement in cost-to-value efficiency per ton of feedstock compared to conventional ironmaking
· Reduces carbon emissions, minimizes reagent consumption and waste, enables carbon sequestration, and incorporates a circular reagent economy
· Eliminates the need for dual-cell electrowinning configurations, reducing costs and improving efficiency
Unmet Need
· The iron and steel industry faces increasing pressure to decarbonize. Existing production methods remain carbon-intensive and energy inefficient. Thus, there exists a strong need for developing cost-effective iron extraction methods from abundant gangue minerals, coupled with carbon sequestration and streamlined electrowinning, to improve economic viability and sustainability.
Technology Description
· Researchers at Johns Hopkins have developed an electrochemical hydrometallurgy for sustainable ironmaking (EHSI) process, enabling sustainable iron recovery from low-cost feedstock. This method incorporates efficient single-cell electrowinning, electrochemical direct air capture (EDACTM) for carbon sequestration, and circular regeneration of sulfuric acid to reduce reagent consumption and waste generation. Data show that the EHSI process achieves over 90% iron and nickel recovery from $6/ton feedstock. Additionally, a life cycle assessment (LCA) model indicates that the EHSI process achieves carbon neutrality, even with today’s grid (387 g-CO2e/kWh).
Stage of Development
· The technology is currently at a laboratory-scale proof-of-concept stage. At the time of disclosure, the researchers classified it as Technology Readiness Level 3[AH1] , demonstrating its feasibility through successful proof-of-concept experiments.
Data Availability
· Data available upon request.
Publication
N/A
