The extraction of oxygen from lunar soil is a major area of interest for space exploration, and researchers have made significant progress in developing a technique to produce oxygen from lunar regolith without the use of carbon. This breakthrough could have significant implications for future space missions, including the creation of carbon-free steel. According to a recent study published in the journal Metallurgical and Materials Transactions B, researchers were able to extract oxygen from simulated lunar soil through a process called molten oxide electrolysis. This process involves heating the regolith to temperatures above 1600°C, which causes it to melt and separate into a liquid metallic phase and a solid oxide phase. The researchers were then able to use an electrochemical cell to extract oxygen from the oxide phase, which they estimate could produce up to 25 kg of oxygen per day. To read more, use the button below to open the original external article.