Perfect Metals makes tin powder from cassiterite
Australian company Perfect Metals has developed a new low-temperature electrolytic process to convert cassiterite directly to high purity tin powder.
Electrolytic processes are commonly used to purify metals and for electroplating materials such as in tinplate production. Perfect Metals already exploited these technologies to adapt conventional routes for chrome powder production in 2023 and they hope to do the same for tin.
Several research projects over the years have explored chemistry-based ways to reduce energy inputs and make high value products from tin concentrate directly, including making tin chemicals. This novel development combines several such steps to achieve a metal powder product.
The process is powered by solar cells and produces green hydrogen as a by-product, further enhancing its sustainability credentials.
Perfect Metals use a modular plant for this process, that can be scaled using production pods. This innovation may enable a further strategic objective by localising small-scale tin production, minimising ore transportation and diversifying the supply chain.
Similar low-carbon production routes are being developed across the metals space, with significant potential to reduce carbon footprint, although many are still at experimental or early commercial stages.
