| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2023 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
New Directions in Mineral Processing, Extractive Metallurgy, Recycling and Waste Minimization: An EPD Symposium in Honor of Patrick R. Taylor
|
| Presentation Title |
High Vacuum Solar Thermal Dissociation for Metal and Oxide Extraction |
| Author(s) |
Matthew Shaw, Geoffrey Brooks, M. Akbar Rhamdhani, Alan Duffy, Mark Pownceby |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
M. Akbar Rhamdhani |
| Abstract Scope |
The current increased interest in space-based mineral and metal extraction technology, and the increased likelihood of establishing research type facilities on the Lunar surface, allow for an ideal platform for high vacuum metallurgical research. The current work examines the viability of a thermal dissociation processes for metal and oxide extraction from both beneficiated and un-beneficiated feedstocks. The thermal dissociation of lunar regolith simulants and pure oxides is demonstrated using a bespoke vacuum reactor in the Swinburne solar simulator. Specific focus is given to sub-liquidus operation and thus the sublimation of oxides under these vacuum conditions. In this talk we will cover the thermodynamic and kinetic considerations, as well as the practical demonstration of such a process. This work demonstrates a potential novel extraction technique for space-based resource extraction as well as the exciting potential presented by the natural vacuum conditions on the Moon when considering future high vacuum metallurgical research. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: |
| Keywords |
Pyrometallurgy, |