About this Abstract |
Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
Symposium
|
Advances in Recycling and Environmental Technologies
|
Presentation Title |
Low-Temperature Iron Electrolysis for Sustainable Metal Recovery from Mining Tailings |
Author(s) |
Duhan Zhang |
On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Duhan Zhang |
Abstract Scope |
Iron-rich tailings from mining and refining processes pose both environmental hazards and untapped resource potential. These wastes often contain valuable elements like Fe, Al, rare earths, but their recovery is hindered by the dominance of iron oxide matrices. We demonstrate a low-temperature electrolysis process to selectively reduce iron oxides into iron metal, enabling the downstream liberation of rare earth elements. Our approach offers significant energy and emissions reductions compared to traditional carbothermal or high-temperature electrolysis. The process produces solid iron directly at the cathode without CO₂ emissions, while the remaining residue becomes enriched in rare earth oxides and other metal salts for further processing. This low-carbon pathway transforms industrial waste into green iron feedstock and paves the way for integrated recovery of critical materials from low-grade ores and tailings. |
Proceedings Inclusion? |
Undecided |
Keywords |
Electrometallurgy, Extraction and Processing, Recycling and Secondary Recovery |