Iron Recovery from Ilmenite via Mechanochemical Treatment, Acid Leaching, and Electrodeposition for Lunar Resource Utilization

Abstract

The recent expansion of space development has increased the interest in establishing sustainable lunar bases. Because transporting materials from Earth is extremely costly, the utilization of lunar resources is essential for future lunar exploration. Lunar regolith contains abundant ilmenite (FeTiO3), which is a potential source of iron; however, conventional terrestrial smelting methods are unsuitable for the lunar environment. In this study, a novel process for iron recovery from ilmenite-containing lunar regolith was developed by using mechanochemical treatment, acid leaching, and electrodeposition. Mechanochemical treatment with sodium hydroxide converted ilmenite into soluble species, followed by selective iron extraction in a hydrochloric acid solution and subsequent iron recovery by electrodeposition. The proposed process demonstrates a potential pathway for producing iron from lunar resources under lunar-compatible conditions. This study contributes to the development of in situ resource utilization technologies for future lunar base construction and sustainable space exploration.