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Doesn't this seem like we are just going to use up iron supplies. Iron would then become a used up commodity and drive up prices. Just like when Corn was used f
by FrustratedMonky 3y ago
Doesn't this seem like we are just going to use up iron supplies.
Iron would then become a used up commodity and drive up prices.
Just like when Corn was used for ethanol, the side effect was driving up corn prices, and raising food prices.
This could use up Iron, and then impact a ton of stuff.
EDIT
Missed this:
"This can later be reduced—that is, the oxygen can be stripped away—back into iron powder. “You can think of iron fuel as a clean, recyclable coal,” says Bergthorson."
So guess it's all good.
- RajT88 3y agoThe iron mining biz would probably expand, pushing prices down. Iron is just everywhere. I can go out in my back yard and find rocks which contain ore.
- Arubis 3y agoIf we have to pick a natural resource to exploit for fuel, iron is a good choice: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abundance_of_the_chemical_elements#Crust https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Abundance_of_the_chemical_elem...
- bioemerl 3y agoIron is one of the most abundant elements on earth, but also we aren't going to be burning it like we do fuels now. Instead we would produce pure iron using green power and oxidize it back to it's natural state for energy in a cycle. Imagine loading an iron rod into your car, driving for a while, and then when you get into the gas station you dump a pile of rust off and buy a fresh iron bar.
- neolefty 3y agoSome societal implications: * Kids playing with iron filings sounds a lot safer than kids playing with gasoline. "Don't leave your magnets in the fuel tank; it clogs up the lines!" * The gasoline party scene in Zoolander would need to be reconsidered.