04-M30-MP-2151 | Electrowinning of metals from Martian minerals: Preparation and characterization of regolith pellets and high-temperature deoxidation electrolysis (in English) Elektrolytische Gewinnung von Metallen aus Marsmineralien: Herstellung und Charakterisierung von Regolith-Pellets und Hochtemperatur-Desoxidation Elektrolyse
Projektplenum (Teaching) ECTS: 12 (MScPT 15)
The topic focuses on electro winning of metals and alloys from a typical Martian mineral, regolith, and the production of oxygen as a byproduct, without emitting greenhouse gasses or using fossil fuels in any phase. The following tasks are proposed for this Master's project: 1. Investigating various available regolith-like samples. 2. Systematic preparation of regolith pellets using the pressing-sintering method. 3. Characterization of the pellets in terms of porosity, morphology (SEM), mechanical (micro-hardness) and electrical (conductivity) properties. 4. Usage of an already existing set-up for high-temperature molten salt electrolysis and the self-prepared pellets for electrowinning, focusing on the impacts of the pellet-type and electrolyte composition on the results. 5. Characterization of the samples after the run using XRD analysis in order to determinethe current efficiency
| Prof. Dr. Jorg Thöming
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