Steel’s Declining Demand Sharpens Focus On Molten Oxide Electrolysis - CleanTechnica

The article discusses molten oxide electrolysis (MOE) as a promising zero-carbon steel production method, especially relevant amid declining steel demand influenced by reduced cement consumption and slower construction in China. MOE replaces traditional carbon-based reduction of iron ore with an electrochemical process that directly reduces iron oxide to molten iron using electricity, producing only oxygen as a byproduct if powered by clean energy. This method offers an elegant, fundamentally carbon-free approach to steelmaking, potentially transforming the industry’s environmental footprint. However, the article highlights significant technical and operational challenges in implementing MOE at scale. The process requires maintaining extremely high temperatures (~1600°C), which imposes severe demands on materials, especially the inert anodes that must resist corrosion and oxidation without degrading. While advances such as iron-chromium alloys with protective oxide layers show promise, durability remains a concern. Additionally, managing the slag—a byproduct of impurities in iron ore—adds complexity, as it must be carefully controlled and periodically removed to maintain electrochemical