Low-waste, single-step, sustainable extraction of critical metals from deep-sea polymetallic nodules.

ABSTRACT: To support the green energy transition, sustainable supplies of critical metals-60 million (metric) tons of copper, 10 million tons of nickel, and 1 million tons of cobalt-annually by 2050 are essential. These metals are currently sourced from declining terrestrial reserves, making deep-sea polymetallic nodules a promising alternative. However, current metal extraction methods are lengthy and energy and carbon intensive, emitting 45, 28, and 4 tons of carbon dioxide equivalent per ton of nickel, cobalt, and copper, respectively. We present a fossil-free hydrogen plasma-based reduction process, powered by green hydrogen and renewable energy, which condenses calcination, smelting, reduction, and refining into a single-step metal extraction, reducing direct carbon dioxide emissions by up to 9

SUBMITTER: Manzoor U 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12637279 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature