Revolutionary metal production: CO2-free methods on the rise!

Revolutionary metal production: CO2-free methods on the rise!

On May 21, 2025, Prof. Min-Kyu Paek was appointed by the university president Dr.-Ing. Sylvia Schattauer was officially appointed professor at the Clausthal University of Technology. The ceremony, which was also attended by the Dean of the Faculty of Natural and Materials Sciences, Prof. René Wilhelm, as well as other professors from the Institute of Metallurgy, marks a significant step for the department at the university.

Originally from Seoul, South Korea, Prof. Paek completed both his bachelor's and master's degrees in Metallurgical Engineering from Hanyang University. Following his studies, he completed postdoctoral research at renowned institutions such as McGill University in Canada, Seoul National University and Aalto University in Finland. His in-depth knowledge in this subject area is a valuable asset for the Clausthal University of Technology and strengthens its international character.

Research focus and commitment

Prof. Paek's research interests are diverse and relate to environmentally friendly metallurgical processes. A focus is on hydrogen metallurgy and the use of by-products to develop low-emission processes. In particular, it aims to recycle industrial waste and recover valuable metals. He is also involved in thermodynamic modeling and kinetic simulation using FactSage software.

His commitment is also notable: he was President of the Society of Korean Scientists and Engineers of Finland from 2020 to 2021 and has held the position of President of the Korean Expert Association on Materials Science and Technology in Europe since 2024.

Innovations in metal production

The challenges of metal production in terms of CO2 emissions are enormous. According to information from the Max Planck Institute for Sustainable Materials, metal production is currently responsible for 10 percent of global CO2 emissions. The iron and steel industry in particular must drastically reduce its CO2 emissions in order to achieve the goals of the Paris Agreement, which call for a reduction of 80 percent by 2050.

A new method for climate-neutral metal production that uses hydrogen as an energy source and reducing agent promises great progress here. This innovative technique allows metals to be extracted and processed in a single step at low temperatures of just 700 degrees Celsius, representing a 40 percent energy saving compared to conventional metallurgy. The previous processes are multi-stage and produce two tons of CO2 when producing one ton of iron.

In this context, new developments such as hydrogen plasma technology for the smelting reduction of iron ores are also being investigated. This technology could be considered a key technology for Europe's energy transition by revolutionizing basic production methods and producing climate-neutral water as an end product.

The path to industrial application

However, in order to apply these promising technologies industrially, several challenges must be overcome. These include adapting to contaminated raw materials and the cost efficiency of hydrogen. A pilot project that will develop a system to produce up to 50 kg of steel per batch is already being planned. This innovation process could permanently change the entire industry and significantly reduce the ecological footprint of alloy production.

With his appointment to Clausthal University of Technology, Prof. Min-Kyu Paek will undoubtedly make a valuable contribution to the further development of these technologies and advance the discussion about sustainable metallurgy. Its international network and commitment to environmentally friendly processes will be instrumental in overcoming the challenges of metal production in the coming years.

For further information about Prof. Paek's appointment, visit TU Clausthal here. You can find out more about the new developments in metal production in the reports from the Max Planck Institute here and on the CO2-free steel production page here.