Editing Electrolysis (section)

=== Electrolysis of Iron Ore ===
The current method of producing steel from [[iron ore]] is very carbon intensive, in part to the direct release of CO<sub>2</sub> in the blast furnace. A study of steel making in Germany found that producing 1 ton of steel emitted 2.1 tons of [[Global warming potential|CO<sub>2</sub>e]] with 22% of that being direct emissions from the blast furnace.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Backes |first1=Jana Gerta |last2=Suer |first2=Julian |last3=Pauliks |first3=Nils |last4=Neugebauer |first4=Sabrina |last5=Traverso |first5=Marzia |date=19 March 2021 |title=Life Cycle Assessment of an Integrated Steel Mill Using Primary Manufacturing Data: Actual Environmental Profile |journal=Sustainability |language=en |volume=13 |issue=6 |pages=3443 |doi=10.3390/su13063443 |issn=2071-1050|doi-access=free |bibcode=2021Sust...13.3443B }}</ref> As of 2022, steel production contributes 7–9% of global emissions.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Lopes |first1=Daniela V. |last2=Quina |first2=Margarida J. |last3=Frade |first3=Jorge R. |last4=Kovalevsky |first4=Andrei V. |date=2022 |title=Prospects and challenges of the electrochemical reduction of iron oxides in alkaline media for steel production |journal=Frontiers in Materials |volume=9 |doi=10.3389/fmats.2022.1010156 |bibcode=2022FrMat...910156L |issn=2296-8016|doi-access=free }}</ref> Electrolysis of iron can eliminate direct emissions and further reduce emissions if the electricity is created from green energy.

The small-scale electrolysis of iron has been successfully reported by dissolving it in molten [[oxide]] salts and using a platinum anode.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Wiencke |first1=Jan |last2=Lavelaine |first2=Hervé |last3=Panteix |first3=Pierre-Jean |last4=Petitjean |first4=Carine |last5=Rapin |first5=Christophe |date=2018-01-01 |title=Electrolysis of iron in a molten oxide electrolyte |journal=Journal of Applied Electrochemistry |language=en |volume=48 |issue=1 |pages=115–126 |doi=10.1007/s10800-017-1143-5 |s2cid=102871146 |issn=1572-8838|doi-access=free }}</ref> Oxygen anions form oxygen gas and electrons at the anode. Iron cations consume electrons and form iron metal at the cathode. This method was performed a temperature of 1550&nbsp;°C which presents a significant challenge to maintaining the reaction. Particularly, anode [[corrosion]] is a concern at these temperatures.

Additionally, the low temperature reduction of iron oxide by dissolving it in alkaline water has been reported.<ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Yuan |first1=Boyan |last2=Haarberg |first2=Geir Martin |date=2009-03-20 |title=Electrodeposition of Iron in Aqueous Alkaline Solution: An Alternative to Carbothermic Reduction |url=https://iopscience.iop.org/article/10.1149/1.3114006/meta |journal=ECS Transactions |language=en |volume=16 |issue=36 |pages=31 |doi=10.1149/1.3114006 |bibcode=2009ECSTr..16J..31Y |s2cid=96771590 |issn=1938-5862}}</ref> The temperature is much lower than traditional iron production at 114&nbsp;°C. The low temperatures also tend to correlate with higher current efficiencies, with an efficiency of 95% being reported. While these methods are promising, they struggle to be cost competitive because of the large economies of scale keeping the price of blast furnace iron low.