The Use of Copper Slag in the Thermolysis Process for Solar Hydrogen Production—A Novel Alternative for the Circular Economy
Copper slag, produced in pyrometallurgical processes, has the potential to generate hydrogen through thermolysis, depending on its composition. This manuscript explores the use of copper slag as a highly abundant and low-cost material for thermochemical water splitting using concentrated solar power...
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MDPI AG
2025-04-01
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| author | Manuel Fuentes Susana Leiva-Guajardo Atul Sagade Felipe Sepúlveda Alvaro Soliz Norman Toro José Ángel Cobos Murcia V. E. Reyes Cruz Mario Toledo Edward Fuentealba Felipe M. Galleguillos Madrid |
| author_facet | Manuel Fuentes Susana Leiva-Guajardo Atul Sagade Felipe Sepúlveda Alvaro Soliz Norman Toro José Ángel Cobos Murcia V. E. Reyes Cruz Mario Toledo Edward Fuentealba Felipe M. Galleguillos Madrid |
| author_sort | Manuel Fuentes |
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| description | Copper slag, produced in pyrometallurgical processes, has the potential to generate hydrogen through thermolysis, depending on its composition. This manuscript explores the use of copper slag as a highly abundant and low-cost material for thermochemical water splitting using concentrated solar power. Copper slag can undergo endothermic reactions with water vapor at high temperatures, conditions which are favorable for activating hydrogen evolution reactions which can be a potential resource for metal recovery such as magnetite and hematite in the circular economy. While research on copper slag and its components has primarily focused on the recovery of valuable metals and material reuse, its direct application in hydrogen production remains largely unexplored, partly due to historically low interest in hydrogen as an energy source. The vast deposits of copper slag in the Atacama Desert, combined with the growing demand for renewable energy, present a unique opportunity to develop sustainable and cost-effective hydrogen production technologies. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-3070f19e9d5c4d7fa6cda94e949bee90 |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 2076-3417 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-04-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Applied Sciences |
| spelling | doaj-art-3070f19e9d5c4d7fa6cda94e949bee902025-08-20T02:24:44ZengMDPI AGApplied Sciences2076-34172025-04-01159498810.3390/app15094988The Use of Copper Slag in the Thermolysis Process for Solar Hydrogen Production—A Novel Alternative for the Circular EconomyManuel Fuentes0Susana Leiva-Guajardo1Atul Sagade2Felipe Sepúlveda3Alvaro Soliz4Norman Toro5José Ángel Cobos Murcia6V. E. Reyes Cruz7Mario Toledo8Edward Fuentealba9Felipe M. Galleguillos Madrid10Centro de Desarrollo Energético Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1240000, ChileCentro de Desarrollo Energético Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1240000, ChileDepartamento de Ingeniería Mecánica, Universidad de Tarapacá, Arica 1100000, ChileCentro de Desarrollo Energético Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1240000, ChileDepartamento de Ingeniería en Metalurgia, Universidad de Atacama, Copiapó 1531772, ChileFacultad de Ingeniería y Arquitectura, Universidad Arturo Prat, Iquique 1110939, ChileInstituto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Carr. Pachuca—Tulancingo km. 4.5, Mineral de la Reforma 42184, MexicoInstituto de Ciencias Básicas e Ingeniería, Universidad Autónoma del Estado de Hidalgo, Carr. Pachuca—Tulancingo km. 4.5, Mineral de la Reforma 42184, MexicoDepartment of Mechanical Engineering, Universidad Técnica Federico Santa María, Av. España 1680, Valparaíso 2390123, ChileCentro de Desarrollo Energético Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1240000, ChileCentro de Desarrollo Energético Antofagasta, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta 1240000, ChileCopper slag, produced in pyrometallurgical processes, has the potential to generate hydrogen through thermolysis, depending on its composition. This manuscript explores the use of copper slag as a highly abundant and low-cost material for thermochemical water splitting using concentrated solar power. Copper slag can undergo endothermic reactions with water vapor at high temperatures, conditions which are favorable for activating hydrogen evolution reactions which can be a potential resource for metal recovery such as magnetite and hematite in the circular economy. While research on copper slag and its components has primarily focused on the recovery of valuable metals and material reuse, its direct application in hydrogen production remains largely unexplored, partly due to historically low interest in hydrogen as an energy source. The vast deposits of copper slag in the Atacama Desert, combined with the growing demand for renewable energy, present a unique opportunity to develop sustainable and cost-effective hydrogen production technologies.https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/4988circular economycopper slagwaste managementwater splitting at high temperature |
| spellingShingle | Manuel Fuentes Susana Leiva-Guajardo Atul Sagade Felipe Sepúlveda Alvaro Soliz Norman Toro José Ángel Cobos Murcia V. E. Reyes Cruz Mario Toledo Edward Fuentealba Felipe M. Galleguillos Madrid The Use of Copper Slag in the Thermolysis Process for Solar Hydrogen Production—A Novel Alternative for the Circular Economy Applied Sciences circular economy copper slag waste management water splitting at high temperature |
| title | The Use of Copper Slag in the Thermolysis Process for Solar Hydrogen Production—A Novel Alternative for the Circular Economy |
| title_full | The Use of Copper Slag in the Thermolysis Process for Solar Hydrogen Production—A Novel Alternative for the Circular Economy |
| title_fullStr | The Use of Copper Slag in the Thermolysis Process for Solar Hydrogen Production—A Novel Alternative for the Circular Economy |
| title_full_unstemmed | The Use of Copper Slag in the Thermolysis Process for Solar Hydrogen Production—A Novel Alternative for the Circular Economy |
| title_short | The Use of Copper Slag in the Thermolysis Process for Solar Hydrogen Production—A Novel Alternative for the Circular Economy |
| title_sort | use of copper slag in the thermolysis process for solar hydrogen production a novel alternative for the circular economy |
| topic | circular economy copper slag waste management water splitting at high temperature |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2076-3417/15/9/4988 |
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