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This paper evaluates the possibility of analyzing the composition of high-quality copper scrap with X-ray fluorescence spectrometry (XRF) instead of electrogravimetry combined with flame atomic absorption spectroscopy (EG+FAAS) method. The evaluation of the methods was performed on three real copper scraps, the composition of which were estimated in average samples taken after re-melting. Traceability of XRF results was ensured by the use of new certified reference materials (CRMs) dedicated to copper scrap analysis. The copper content results obtained by XRF were characterized by high agreement with the reference results obtained by EG+FAAS method. The estimated expanded uncertainty for Cu of both methods was 0.23%. In addition to significant time savings without compromising accuracy, the XRF method additionally provided information on the content of 12 other elements, such as Sn, Zn, Co, Cd, Sb, Ni, Fe, Pb, Bi, Ag, Al, and P. This may make the XRF method attractive compared to the commonly used EG+FAAS method.

With the increasing amount of electrical cable and wire scrap, copper recycling has become a priority to conserve natural resources and reduce environmental impact. This study presents an innovative process for recycling copper wire and cable of various types, including greased ones. The process combines cold and hot treatments to maximise metal recovery while minimising polluting emissions. Initially, the cables are stripped and the PVC sheaths and other components are separated. Subsequently, these cables are subjected to pyrolysis in a hermetical furnace operating under an inert atmosphere, ensuring the absence of toxic emissions. The pyrolysis, carried out at temperatures between 500 °C and 600 °C, decomposed the insulating materials while minimising copper oxidation. A 100 kg sample of wire and cable pyrolysed at 540 °C was melted in an Indian foundry using the Upcast process to produce 8 mm oxygen-free copper rods. The electrical conductivity measurement of these rods showed a value of 98.2% IACS, making them suitable for many applications, especially electrical ones. The copper recovery rate reached a maximum value of 99.5%, demonstrating the effectiveness of the process. This sustainable process, suitable for small and medium foundries, offers an efficient and environmentally friendly solution for copper cables recycling.

This investigation is concerned with the extraction of nugget copper particles from copper recovery plant slag which recycled of copper scrap. For this purpose, the Falcon concentrator was used because of its enhanced gravity properties. The Falcon concentrator has a fast spinning bowl which creates a centrifugal force to separate fine size minerals on the basis of their density differences. In the tests, the tailings of the copper recovery plant were used and the test sample was divided into two groups and one of them was classified in narrow particle sizes. The operational parameters were determined as particle size, centrifugal force and washing water pressures. The water pressure and centrifugal force have an inversely proportional relationship. Because of this phenomenon, the G/P parameter was created. The test conditions were applied to the whole distribution sample and narrow size distribution samples in the same way. The test results indicate that the average grade was elevated from 1.04% to 6.50% with the recovery of 15.07% and 619% enrichment ratio for narrow sizes, whereas grade was elevated to 4.36% with 13.24% recovery and 415.94% enrichment ratio for the whole distribution. As a result, the recovery and grade values of concentrates are not good enough for gravity concentration process for both samples. However, this process was applied to the double recycled material and the lower recovery, grade values can be tolerated because of concentrate is nugget copper metal. The concentrate can also be washed in cleaning table for increasing the grade value for adding to initial feed of plant. This process can, therefore, supply important earnings not only economically but also environmentally.

Purpose This paper illustrates how a product-centric approach to recycling, building on the extensive expertise, knowhow and tools of the mineral-centric classical minerals and metallurgical processing, should be core to Design for Resource Efficiency (DfRE). Methods Process simulation (HSC Sim 1974-2014, Outotec's design tool) and environmental software (GaBi 2014) are applied to quantify resource efficiency (RE) in a rigorous manner. These digitalisation tools are linked and will be used to show how the environmental performance of copper primary production, the processing of residues and the recycling of e-waste, e.g. light emitting diode (LED) lamps as well as the production of nickel pig iron can be evaluated. The paper also shows how technologies can be compared relative to a precise thermodynamic and techno-economic baseline. Results The results include simulation-based environmental indicators, exergy, recycling and recovery rates, as well as the qualities and quantities of the recyclates, losses and emissions of materials during production recycling. The complete mass and energy balance simulation provides the mineralogical detail of all streams (both mineral and recyclate as well as offgas and dust) to define and improve environmental assessment, while at the same time revealing the aspects of LCA databases and their results that require improvement. Furthermore, this paper presents an approach for industry to implement life-cycle methods in practice. It shows that the DfRE is all about predicting stream grades and thus is equivalent to Design for Recyclate grade and quality (as this determines whether a recyclate or product stream has economic value and can be treated or processed further). DfRE also reveals especially the grade, composition, minerals etc. of the leakage streams, i.e. diffuse emissions, thus permitting a more precise evaluation of environmental impact. Conclusions The prediction of recyclate and stream compositions and grade makes the environmental analysis of systems more precise and will help to expand the detail that defines these flows on environmental databases. This is especially valuable for DfR, where the methodological rigour suggested in this paper is a very necessary addition and requirement for estimating the true environmental impact of product redesigns and the resource efficiency of processing technology and complete recycling systems. The methodology produces mass- and energy-consistent, economically viable best available technique (BAT) process blocks, the inclusion of which on environmental databases will be invaluable in benchmarking technology and systems in terms of estimating the achievable resource efficiency baseline.

Several countries are moving toward carbon neutrality to mitigate climate change. The introduction of clean energy vehicles (CEVs) is a measure to offset the adverse effects of global warming. However, each CEV has its strengths and weaknesses. An optimal CEV portfolio must be formulated to create effective policies that promote innovative technologies and introduce them into the market. CEVs also consume more copper than gasoline vehicles. Copper is associated with supply risks, which most previous conventional studies have failed to address. Therefore, this study proposes a novel CEV optimization model for sustainable consumption of copper resources through recycling along with reduction of CO2 emissions. This study aims to analyze the optimal portfolio for domestic passenger vehicles and the assumed effects of copper recycling and usage reduction. For this analysis, this study set up scenarios for the recycling rate of copper contained in end-of-life vehicles and the reduction rate of copper used in newly sold vehicles. Our simulation results showed that increased recycling rates and reduced use of copper are necessary for the diffusion of battery electric vehicles. Furthermore, the simulation results indicated that if these improvements are not implemented, the deployment of fuel cell vehicles needs to be accelerated.

Copper and iron are critical to the economic growth of modern society. Nations depend on these metals for the development of infrastructure, transportation, and other industries. However, concerns regarding future availability of “peak minerals” with a “limit to growth” have been extensively debated. The purpose of this study was to investigate the amount of potential resources and the recycling rate from secondary metal scrap recycling for the sustainable development of mineral resources. The long-term mineral supply and demand balance with respect to recycling for copper and iron were developed for the next 50 years at the regional and global levels. The results indicate that the supply of copper would increase four-fold by 2070 compared to 1991, with primary copper remaining the main contributing source. For iron, the total supply would increase by nine times from 2000 to 2070, with secondary recycling surpassing the primary iron supply by 2033 and becoming the main contributor by 2070. Even though there is no future resource constraint, further promotion of scrap recycling, especially for copper, is necessary to address environmental concerns through reduction in material extraction. Emphasizing the importance of metals in society is essential for stock accountability through resource efficiency and resource conservation.

Sludges generated from electroplating wastewaters contain high concentrations of metals. Studies have confirmed that the concentrations of several metals in the sludge exceed that of those found in natural ores. A very good example is in the case of copper. The natural copper ore contains less than 1% of copper, whereas copper precipitate sludges from the electroplating industry may have an average of 5–10% of copper. Thus, they are one of the largest sources of untapped metal-bearing secondary materials amenable to metals recovery. In Malaysia, most of these metal-bearing sludges are disposed in specially engineering landfills, as many of them do not have the proper incentives and recovery technology. Very less metal recovery is being carried out, and there seems to be a huge waste in these valuable metal resources. With regards to that, an experimental study was carried out to develop and optimise a method of copper recovery from metal hydroxide sludges. Sludge samples containing high concentrations of copper were obtained from a local electroplating plant for the study. A procedure based upon mineral acid leaching or solubilisation was carried out. Two different types of acids, hydrochloric acid (HCl) and sulphuric acid (H 2 SO 4 ) were used to compare the extractability of copper. Experiments were conducted at various acid concentrations and temperatures to determine the maximum amount of copper recoverable. From the results obtained, maximum copper (95%) was solubilised using H 2 SO 4 of 10 M at temperature 110°C, for a leaching period of 4 h. These copper concentrated solutions were then heated and crystallised to form CuSO 4 crystals. These crystals were then washed with water and purified. They can be then further treated and reutilised in the metallurgical industry. This study introduces a sustainable method of utilising an electroplating sludge containing valuable metals.

The recycling link between End-of-Life (EoL) product composition and metallurgical recovery is discussed in this chapter with reference to a materials centric view (aluminium, copper) and product centric by referring to products such as End-of-Life Vehicles, WEEE, E-waste, Lighting, TV/Displays and Catalysts, Batteries etc. For each of the EoL metals and products, some detail of “mineralogy,” i.e. composition, of each product type is provided also referring to Critical raw materials and recyclate quality. Then recycling in terms of collection and physical as well as metallurgical separation is discussed in some detail. In order to capture the whole cycle, process and system simulation is discussed with reference to various existing tools, also showing various simulation results. Finally, physics-based eco-labeling is discussed while also referring to design for recycling (DfR). 10 Design for Recycling rules are also provided as a function of the detail discussed in this chapter.

Metals are infinitely recyclable in principle, but in practice, recycling is often inefficient or essentially nonexistent because of limits imposed by social behavior, product design, recycling technologies, and the thermodynamics of separation. We review these topics, distinguishing among common, specialty, and precious metals. The most beneficial actions that could improve recycling rates are increased collection rates of discarded products, improved design for recycling, and the enhanced deployment of modern recycling methodology. As a global society, we are currently far away from a closed-loop material system. Much improvement is possible, but limitations of many kinds—not all of them technological—will preclude complete closure of the materials cycle.