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From: space@mit-mc
Newsgroups: net.space
Subject: O2 from lunar rock
Message-ID: <1075@mordor.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 13-Mar-85 23:36:58 EST
Article-I.D.: mordor.1075
Posted: Wed Mar 13 23:36:58 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 16-Mar-85 03:53:19 EST
Sender: daemon@mordor.UUCP
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From: Dale.Amon@CMU-RI-FAS

O2 can be released by melting the rocks and passing a current through them.
The technique is a spin off of the Aluminum industry; in fact the most
recent work was down at Alcoa by Dr. Noel Jarret. They were working on a
type of smelter called a binary cell. As you raise the voltage, you select
which metal will come off next. This allows taking the Aluminum, Iron and
Titanium individually instead of attempting to seperate them later, or by
some density criteria.

The problem is that the electrodes do not last very long; the environment is
incredibly caustic and eats the hell out of them. There was good progress
towards reasonable lifespans, but I believe the work was dropped.