About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Composite Materials for Advanced Functionality: Sustainable and Eco-Friendly Materials and Applications
|
| Presentation Title |
Efficient Reduction of Cobalt Oxide and Nickel Oxide Using Ammonia as a Method for Critical Metal Decarbonization |
| Author(s) |
Catherine Marie Schrader, Sanya Mittal, Luke M. Davis |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Catherine Marie Schrader |
| Abstract Scope |
Producing cobalt and nickel emits 8-40× the CO2 per tonne as iron (0.8-1.5 kg CO2e/kg Fe), and annual demand may triple by 2050. Ammonia has been studied as a promising carbon-free reducing agent for iron oxides, showing potential to eliminate direct emissions of CO2 from ironmaking. We studied reduction of nickel oxide (NiO) and cobalt oxides (Co₃O₄ and CoO) with NH3 under varying temperatures, dwell times, and NH₃ flow rates to optimize efficiency. Utilization of NH₃ was maximized by increasing the gas-solid contact, e.g., by spreading the solid out and employing nanopowders. These carbon-free reactions proceed with high rates and high efficiency: CoO is converted to metal in one minute while using 85% of the ammonia supplied, and NiO is metallized in one minute at 75% utilization. These findings demonstrate the potential for using NH₃ as a sustainable reducing agent and suggest further investigations of its application in real ores. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |