The Australian government is working with Enirgi Group to commercialize what they say is an energy-efficient and low-emission technology for producing magnesium.

MagSonic, a technology developed by Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), produces magnesium using up to 80% less energy and producing up to 60% less carbon dioxide emissions. The partners say the technology will be developed to meet rising demand from car manufacturers, which are interested in the metal as a means for making lightweight, lower-emission vehicles.

Magnesium can be used for lightweight automotive components such as wheels. Image credit: CSIRO.MagSonic uses carbothermal reduction, a process that involves heating magnesia with carbon to extreme temperatures, to produce magnesium vapor and carbon monoxide. The vapor and carbon monoxide are passed through a nozzle at four times the speed of sound to cool the gases in milliseconds, condensing and solidifying the vapor into magnesium metal.

According to Dr. Mark Cooksey, who leads CSIRO’s sustainable process engineering group, commercialization of MagSonic will help exploit Australia’s reserves of magnesite ore, which remain largely untapped.

“Once the technology is proven ready for commercialization, Enirgi Group will have the option to take up an exclusive global license that would see the company build a commercial-scale magnesium production facility in Australia.