PeroCycle will build upon innovations made at the University of Birmingham’s School of Chemical Engineering by Professor Yulong Ding and Dr Harriet Kildahl, who pioneered an in-process carbon recycling method with the use of a double perovskite material. The use of the material enables the in-process splitting of carbon dioxide into carbon monoxide at considerably lower temperatures than current methods. The carbon monoxide could then be recycled in a closed loop as a substitute for coal or coke currently used in the steelmaking process, in turn significantly reducing the volume of carbon dioxide emissions. Cambridge Future Tech, working with Anglo American, will lead the spin-out and development of PeroCycle, de-risking its path to commercial applications.
Cambridge Future Tech CEO, Owen Thompson, said: "Partnering with Anglo American and the University of Birmingham on PeroCycle is a significant milestone for Cambridge Future Tech. This collaboration unites Anglo American’s industry leadership and Birmingham’s world-class research to address one of the most critical challenges in steelmaking. By enabling carbon recycling within existing processes, PeroCycle offers a transformative pathway to decarbonising steel without the need for complete reengineering. We are proud to help advance this innovative solution towards commercial reality."
Matt Walker, CEO of Anglo American’s Marketing business, said, “Anglo American has long sought to help decarbonise the steelmaking sector – from providing our premium iron ore to global steelmakers, to investing in our Ubuntu fleet of LNG dual-fuelled bulk ore carriers. This new investment to commercialise a novel carbon recycling approach aligns with our ambition to reduce our Scope 3 emissions and help catalyse a lower carbon steelmaking industry through the power of innovation and partnership.”
Professor Yulong Ding, founding Chamberlain Chair of Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham, said: “The steel sector currently accounts for around 8% of global carbon emissions. We are excited to work with Anglo American and Cambridge Future Tech to commercialise our novel technology and provide a potential alternative technical solution to enable a deep decarbonisation of the steel sector, and beyond.”
