Liquid Copper and Iron Production from Chalcopyrite, in the Absence of Oxygen

Clean energy infrastructure depends on chalcopyrite: the mineral that contains 70% of world’s copper reserves, as well a range precious and critical metals. Smelting is only commercially viable route to process chalcopyrite, where oxygen-rich environment dictates distribution impurities numerous upstream downstream unit operations manage noxious gases by-products. However, unique opportunities address urgent challenges faced by industry arise excluding oxygen processing chalcopyrite in native sulfide regime. Through electrochemical experiments thermodynamic analysis, gaseous sulfur reduction molten electrolyte are shown be effective levers selectively extract elements for first time. We present new flow supply increasing demand byproduct metals using electricity an inert anode, while decoupling metal production from fugitive gas emissions oxidized