| Abstract Scope |
This paper reviews recent advances in electrometallurgy as a sustainable alternative to conventional carbon-intensive metal production processes. Traditional metallurgical routes rely heavily on fossil fuels and carbon-based reductants, resulting in significant greenhouse gas emissions, whereas electrometallurgical approaches utilize electrons as clean reductants, enabling the potential for net-zero metal production. Key developments in electrolytic systems are discussed, including molten salt, molten oxide, and molten sulfide electrolytes, and their roles in improving process efficiency and enabling extraction of metals such as titanium, silicon, copper, tantalum, vanadium, and iron. Despite ongoing challenges related to energy consumption, kinetics, and scale-up, these advancements position electrometallurgy as a promising pathway toward decarbonizing metal production and supporting a circular economy. |