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Researchers at MIT have found a novel way to separate copper from sulphur-based minerals

Production by extraction

Researchers all over the world are constantly looking to find more ways of extracting and producing copper in order to meet rising demands, and scientists at MIT have found a new, innovative process.

Text: Francis DignanPublished: 2 October 2017

As the demand for copper is constantly rising, scientists all over the world are looking for new ways to produce the conductive metal. Researchers at MIT have done just that, finding a novel way to selectively separate copper from sulphur-based minerals using molten electrolysis.

This new process is described as one-step, where all previous methods were multi-step. Fundamentally, this means cutting both the time and cost of extraction. If they continue to break ground, this new method could be important on an industrial level in the near future, leading to increased copper yields which will help meet demands worldwide.