Outokumpu and MIT Reimagining Critical Metal Extraction With New Tech

The metals industry has relied on similar fundamental science for more than a century. While control systems have improved and furnaces have grown, the core methods used to separate metals from ores have barely changed. A new technology platform called EvoMaterials is exploring how to change that by looking at alternative chemical pathways for extracting metals.

Developed by steel producer Outokumpu and supported by research from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the platform originated from studies into lowering carbon emissions during ferrochrome production. Laboratory trials showed that these new chemical approaches could potentially recover valuable materials from lower-grade ores and industrial waste streams while changing how separation is performed. The team plans to open a pilot plant in New Hampshire in the first half of 2027 to test the technology at a one-ton production scale.

Addressing Supply Chain and Materials Challenges

As economies electrify, demand for critical minerals is rising across sectors like data centers, aerospace, and defense. At the same time, many Western economies have reduced their domestic processing capacity. This creates a supply chain challenge where the geographic origin, carbon footprint, and resilience of materials are increasingly important. Chromium and other specialty metals are vital for extreme environments, making efficient extraction a strategic priority.

Building a Flexible Technology Platform

EvoMaterials functions as a technology platform rather than a single process. Once a new extraction pathway is mastered for one material, the underlying scientific principles could potentially be adapted to other metals and mineral resources. By combining chemistry, materials science, physics, and advanced simulation tools, researchers aim to create more efficient and cost-competitive metals production methods that turn previously uneconomical resources into usable supplies.