RICHLAND, US: A
lightweight metal that reduces fuel use in cars and planes could be
extracted from the ocean through a unique process being developed at the
Department of Energy’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. The
process could ultimately make fuel-efficient transportation more
affordable and expand the American magnesium
market. PNNL is leading a $2.7 million, three-year project to develop a
novel method that removes naturally occurring magnesium from seawater.
“Demand for
lightweight metals such as magnesium is growing, but it’s expensive and
energy-intensive to produce them. We expect our method will be 50 per
cent more energy efficient than the United States’ current magnesium
production process. This will also decrease carbon emissions and the
cost,” said Pete McGrail, Lead Researcher, PNNL Laboratory.
No comments:
Post a Comment