Scientists smelt tin with hydrogen - International Tin Association

Scientists at Freiberg University in Germany have pioneered a new low carbon technology for smelting tin. The researchers used a ‘direct reduction’ process using hydrogen instead of carbon to reduce cassiterite to metallic tin. Cassiterite (SnO2), the main tin ore, is typically processed with high-temperature reduction using carbon-based materials. The new approach offers an important potential for reduced carbon footprint, especially when the hydrogen used is produced using renewable energy sources.