Iron Ore Interactions with Molten Salts for Electrolytic Iron-making
PhD Scholarship
Direct electrolytic iron-making is an important potential solution in decarbonising the steel sector. This research aims to investigate the impact of slag and ore impurities on molten salt electrolysis for sustainable iron production.
Iron ore interactions with molten salts for electrolytic iron-making
Supervisory team: Dr Jessica Allen (50%), Dr SImin Moradmand (25%), Associate Professor Tom Honeyands (25%)
Industry Sponsor and Support: BHP Innovation with the BHP Centre for Sustainable Steelmaking Research
Overview: Direct electrolytic ironmaking is an important potential solution in decarbonising the steel sector. This research aims to investigate the impact of slag and ore impurities on molten salt electrolysis for sustainable iron production.
Research objectives:
Assessing Slag Impact on Electrolyte Behaviour: Understand how slag affects electrolyte behaviour in long-term electrolysis operations.
Evaluating Slag’s Effect on Iron Purity:Define how slag influences the purity of metallic iron, particularly in varying grades of iron ore.
Developing Mitigation Strategies: Identify solutions to reduce impurity impact on the iron product.
Recommending Slag Removal or Electrolyte Recovery Methods: Suggest efficient slag removal or electrolyte recovery strategies for continuous electrolysis operations.
Exploring Slag’s Impact Mechanism: Propose a mechanism for slag’s effect on the electrolysis process.
Project Goals and KPI’s
Develop fundamental understanding of the impact of the interactions of iron ore with molte salts to enable progress of a novel and effective electrolytic processing method for decarbonised iron making.
Tasks will include:
- Literature review of the interactions of molten carbonates with known iron ore components and thoroughly review other similar electrolytic processing approaches and treatment of impurities
- Experimental work to develop comprehensive understanding of iron ore solubility in molten carbonates
- Characterisation of iron deposits formed in the presence of various impurities and melt additives
- Development of experimental approach to attempt sequential deposition of iron ore components to control product purity and recover valuable electrolyte.
Enhanced Research and Training: This project aims to build the capabilities of the BHP for Sustainable Steelmaking group and provide valuable training for a young researcher in this field.
PhD Scholarship details
Funding:
UON Co-Investment Fund (BHP Centre for SSR)
$40,000 per annum. For a PhD candidate, the living allowance scholarship and tuition fee scholarship are for 3.5 years. Scholarships also include up to $1,500 relocation allowance.
Supervisor: Dr Jessica Allen, Dr Simin Moradmand, Associate Professor Tom Honeyands
Available to: Domestic students
PhD
Eligibility Criteria
The applicant will need to meet the minimum eligibility criteria for admission.
Application Procedure
Interested applicants should send an email expressing their interest along with scanned copies of their academic transcripts, CV, a brief statement of their research interests and a proposal that specifically links them to the research project.
Please send the email expressing interest to J.Allen@newcastle.edu.au by 5pm on 30 September 2025.
Applications Close 30 September 2025 Apply Now
- Contact: Jessica Allen
- Phone: +61 2 4033 9359
- Email: J.Allen@newcastle.edu.au
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