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There are a few industrial processes used to convert magnesium oxide to metal, for example the Pidgeon process (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pidgeon_process ht

by s0rce 6y ago

There are a few industrial processes used to convert magnesium oxide to metal, for example the Pidgeon process (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pidgeon_process https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pidgeon_process) which I still remember learning about in my Materials Science undergrad in Toronto. More info here: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Magnesium I suspect some variation of these processes could convert the spent fuel back to metal and then the hydride form or something like that.

ChuckMcM 6y ago
Thank you. That is excellent information. I wonder if anyone has looked into concentrated solar as the heat source for small batch magnesium production using that method.
- s0rce 6y ago
  Appears so: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652619319134 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S09596... Although, looks like much of this is done with hydroelectric processes (same with Aluminum production).
  - ChuckMcM 6y ago
    Nice! And yikes! "Mg recovery in the outlet products was identified as one of the most critical process challenges because of the pyrophoric property of the produced nanopowder and its strong oxidation reactivity with air." Seems like it would be easier to accomplish in batch processing where you could cool to a point where you were under the activation energy of the magnesium reaction with air. But the really awesome thing is that one could set up fuel reprocessing facilities in unused areas with high solar flux (aka deserts) and transport the resulting magnesium back to be made into paste again. And the reason that is cool, is because one of the challenges with solar power is that electrical transmission wastes energy and storage is finite. Storing energy in chemical bonds like plants do is a MUCH more effective way of harnessing solar energy for later use in the production of things.

by s0rce 6y ago

ChuckMcM 6y ago

Thank you. That is excellent information. I wonder if anyone has looked into concentrated solar as the heat source for small batch magnesium production using that method.

s0rce 6y ago
Appears so: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0959652619319134 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S09596... Although, looks like much of this is done with hydroelectric processes (same with Aluminum production).
- ChuckMcM 6y ago
  Nice! And yikes! "Mg recovery in the outlet products was identified as one of the most critical process challenges because of the pyrophoric property of the produced nanopowder and its strong oxidation reactivity with air." Seems like it would be easier to accomplish in batch processing where you could cool to a point where you were under the activation energy of the magnesium reaction with air. But the really awesome thing is that one could set up fuel reprocessing facilities in unused areas with high solar flux (aka deserts) and transport the resulting magnesium back to be made into paste again. And the reason that is cool, is because one of the challenges with solar power is that electrical transmission wastes energy and storage is finite. Storing energy in chemical bonds like plants do is a MUCH more effective way of harnessing solar energy for later use in the production of things.