{"id":{"repo_id":"mit","oai_identifier":"oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/98004"},"canonical_url":"https://search.dev.ndltd.org/etd/mit/oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/98004","repository":{"repo_id":"mit","name":"MIT","base_url":"https://dspace.mit.edu/oai/request"},"display":{"title":"Electrolytic extraction of a metal from its metal compound: estimates of optimal energy requirements and their consequences","abstract":"To ensure the sustainability of a world whose growing population demands more materials, products, and energy, we must closely examine the sustainability of the industries that supply them. Metal-making industries encounter an opportunity space at the extraction stage of a metal life cycle when aiming at making a significant impact in energy efficiency and carbon emission mitigation. We first develop a thermodynamic model that establishes the technical criteria for the most efficient operation of an electrolytic cell for a variety of metals. Second, we explore the rigidity of the operating boundary conditions and their impact on energy consumption. We then proceed to examine the energy and carbon impact of a hypothetical electrolytic ferrochromium operation in the United States. This case study demonstrates that the thermodynamic model can serve as a reference framework through which diverse stakeholders can compare the environmental impact of existing and innovative metal extraction processes in order to make informed decisions about environmental regulation, investments, subsidies, and mineral resource management.","abstract_html":"To ensure the sustainability of a world whose growing population demands more materials, products, and energy, we must closely examine the sustainability of the industries that supply them. Metal-making industries encounter an opportunity space at the extraction stage of a metal life cycle when aiming at making a significant impact in energy efficiency and carbon emission mitigation. We first develop a thermodynamic model that establishes the technical criteria for the most efficient operation of an electrolytic cell for a variety of metals. Second, we explore the rigidity of the operating boundary conditions and their impact on energy consumption. We then proceed to examine the energy and carbon impact of a hypothetical electrolytic ferrochromium operation in the United States. This case study demonstrates that the thermodynamic model can serve as a reference framework through which diverse stakeholders can compare the environmental impact of existing and innovative metal extraction processes in order to make informed decisions about environmental regulation, investments, subsidies, and mineral resource management.","abstract_has_math":false,"creators":["Angarita Fonseca, Maria Paula"],"institution":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology","degree_name":null,"degree_level":null,"degree_discipline":null,"degree_department":"Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division.","school":null,"contributors":[],"advisors":["Antoine Allanore."],"committee_chairs":[],"committee_members":[],"year":2015,"date_issued":"2015","date_published":"2015","updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:21:36Z","subjects":["Engineering Systems Division.","Technology and Policy Program."],"languages":["eng"],"rights":["M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission."],"rights_urls":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"],"identifier_entries":[]},"links":{"outbound_url":"http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/98004","outbound_label":"Handle","outbound_source":"dc:identifier.uri"},"metadata_groups":[{"id":"people","label":"People","entries":[{"key":"dc:contributor.advisor","label":"Advisor","values":["Antoine Allanore."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.department","label":"Department","values":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division.","Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Technology and Policy Program."]},{"key":"dc:contributor.other","label":"Dc Contributor Other","values":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. 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Metal-making industries encounter an opportunity space at the extraction stage of a metal life cycle when aiming at making a significant impact in energy efficiency and carbon emission mitigation. We first develop a thermodynamic model that establishes the technical criteria for the most efficient operation of an electrolytic cell for a variety of metals. Second, we explore the rigidity of the operating boundary conditions and their impact on energy consumption. We then proceed to examine the energy and carbon impact of a hypothetical electrolytic ferrochromium operation in the United States. This case study demonstrates that the thermodynamic model can serve as a reference framework through which diverse stakeholders can compare the environmental impact of existing and innovative metal extraction processes in order to make informed decisions about environmental regulation, investments, subsidies, and mineral resource management."]},{"key":"dc:description.degree","label":"Dc Description Degree","values":["S.M. in Technology and Policy"]},{"key":"dc:title","label":"Title","values":["Electrolytic extraction of a metal from its metal compound: estimates of optimal energy requirements and their consequences"]}]}],"canonical_facts":{"dc:contributor.advisor":["Antoine Allanore."],"dc:contributor.department":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Engineering Systems Division.","Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Technology and Policy Program."],"dc:contributor.other":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Technology and Policy Program."],"dc:creator":["Angarita Fonseca, Maria Paula"],"dc:date.accessioned":["2015-07-31T19:13:43Z"],"dc:date.available":["2015-07-31T19:13:43Z"],"dc:date.issued":["2015"],"dc:description":["Thesis: S.M. in Technology and Policy, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Engineering Systems Division, 2015.","Cataloged from PDF version of thesis.","Includes bibliographical references (pages 62-66)."],"dc:description.abstract":["To ensure the sustainability of a world whose growing population demands more materials, products, and energy, we must closely examine the sustainability of the industries that supply them. Metal-making industries encounter an opportunity space at the extraction stage of a metal life cycle when aiming at making a significant impact in energy efficiency and carbon emission mitigation. We first develop a thermodynamic model that establishes the technical criteria for the most efficient operation of an electrolytic cell for a variety of metals. Second, we explore the rigidity of the operating boundary conditions and their impact on energy consumption. We then proceed to examine the energy and carbon impact of a hypothetical electrolytic ferrochromium operation in the United States. This case study demonstrates that the thermodynamic model can serve as a reference framework through which diverse stakeholders can compare the environmental impact of existing and innovative metal extraction processes in order to make informed decisions about environmental regulation, investments, subsidies, and mineral resource management."],"dc:description.degree":["S.M. in Technology and Policy"],"dc:identifier.uri":["http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/98004"],"dc:language.iso":["eng"],"dc:publisher":["Massachusetts Institute of Technology"],"dc:rights":["M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission."],"dc:rights.uri":["http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582"],"dc:subject":["Engineering Systems Division.","Technology and Policy Program."],"dc:title":["Electrolytic extraction of a metal from its metal compound: estimates of optimal energy requirements and their consequences"],"dc:type":["Thesis"]},"updated_at":"2026-07-22T22:21:36Z"}