Apple bought the first-ever batch of carbon-free aluminum produced by Elysis, a Canadian joint venture between mining giants Alcoa Corp and Rio Tinto, according to Mining Global.
Elysis, the company’s name, is derived from the ‘electrolysis of alumina,’ a process in aluminum smelting. The ELYSIS™ technology eliminates all direct greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from the aluminum smelting process and is the first technology ever that emits pure oxygen as its by-product.
The Alcoa-Rio Tinto joint-venture company received $60 million (CAD) each from the Canadian Government and the Québec Government and $13 million (CAD) from Apple to facilitate the development of its revolutionary technology.
Aluminum is described as a miracle metal for its strength, lightness of weight and infinite recyclability. However, it is extremely carbon-intensive to produce, as its electrolytic process burns off a carbon anode, thereby releasing carbon dioxide into the environment.
Instead, the Elysis process will use a ceramic anode and release only oxygen. The technology is expected to be commercialized by 2024. It is expected to transform the global aluminum industry, both for retrofitting existing smelters and for new installations.
Lisa Jackson, Apple’s vice president of environment, policy, and social initiatives, said a 130-year old process used to produce aluminum was about to change.
Read the MINING GLOBAL article HERE.
Image Source: ELYSIS