This is science.

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This is science. While trying to test a hypothesis engineers accidentally developed a new more efficient way of smelting, a process in use for about seven millennia, give or take a few years.

Yay, science!
https://www.engadget.com/2016/08/24/mit-accidentally-discovered-a-cleaner-smelting-process/?sr_source=Twitter

Comments

John Bump said…
I'd like to know more what they mean by traditional smelting. Electrolytic refining like this has (to my knowledge) completely supplanted traditional coke-based smelting since about 1880, and I suspect what they're talking about here when they say 'traditional' is old coke-based smelting.
As an aside, I've actually done this. I overstudied for a physical chemistry test one time, so the night before, rather than reading the same stuff over yet again, I made an electrolytic refining setup with NaCl and NaCO3 (to lower the melting point) in a small crucible over an oxymethane burner, with a power supply hooked to the crucible, and managed to make small but visible quantities of sodium metal.
August 25, 2016 at 11:51 AM
Curtis Edenfield said…
Every copper smelter I've been uses electrical power from dams. They use something similar to giant arc welding rods to melt the ore. The refining process requires natural gas. All the exhaust is used for sulfuric acid and compressed oxygen production. The left over toxic sludge is sent to petro chemical companies for use there.
August 25, 2016 at 1:04 PM
Jason ON said…
You guys know what I know and that's in the article. I have to trust the kids at MIT are smarter than me (at this).
August 25, 2016 at 4:40 PM
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