Decarbonization of iron production

Today's carbothermal process for producing iron from iron ore has a high carbon footprint causing massive CO₂ emissions into the atmosphere. Alternatives are needed to mitigate the climate change effects of rising CO₂ concentrations. This invention is a low carbon footprint, zero CO₂ emission, alternative iron production process. Iron oxide ore is discovered to be highly soluble in certain molten carbonates, such as lithium carbonate. Iron is produced electrolytically in these molten salts at approximately 750°C by splitting iron oxide into iron metal and oxygen. This is a high efficiency, low energy, low-carbon footprint alternative to the massive CO₂ emissions associated with the conventional iron industry.