1. Introduction
In the 1960s where hydrometallurgical processes grew in popularity, therewas a common perception that hydrometallurgy wasenvironmentally compliant. This was concluded from the perception that the low temperatures in comparison with pyrometallurgy meantlow energydemands andthe lack of air emissionswas often cited as demonstration that hydrometallurgical methods posed no threats to our environment, but this isnot the case (1)
1.1Aim
The aim of the assignment was to write a report on the effect of environmental issues on hydrometallurgical processing.
2. Environmental issues
Environmental regulations have become stricter over the years. This has led to an increase in the expenditure for safe waste and more responsible water and energy usage when it comes to hydrometallurgical processes. A low to no waste technology solution should always be preferred as it minimizes the threat of environmental legislation, these include: low waste technology solutions (material recycling), chemical treatments (decrease toxicity of solids and solutions) (2).
2.1Consumption
2.1.1 Energy
Many hydrometallurgical process and operations rely on energy,these include pumping of slurries leaching, electrowinning and electrorefining and in South Africa this is energy supplied by Eskom which is produced from coal- a non-renewable and non-clean energy source (3). This means that these hydrometallurgical processes contribute indirectly to the air pollution produced during the generating of electricity and because of Climate Change Levy (which aims to discourage high non-clean energy use) and department of energy regulations, hydrometallurgical plants buy their electricity at a higher price than households or commercial businesses. Hydrometallurg...
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...ions can still be recovered due to the high selectivity, The recovery of metals from these materials is also environmentally favourable, since many of the scrap metals have large amounts of heavy metals and base metals which are hazardous to the environment and the recycling of home scrap means that wastes from production is reduced and therefore in the end there is only a small disposal amount into the environment. (12)
4. Conclusion
With various environmentally conscious movements chanting “No human activity should be allowed without regard for its impact on air, land and water quality, on energy consumption and on greenhouse gas evolution” the mining and extractive metallurgy, have become prime targets for legislation and public concern and therefore all hydrometallurgical plants must re-evaluate and redress and replace all their operations that are in violation.
...sumption, creates emission of greenhouse gases and other harmful chemical materials. Once released into the air, it can cause environmental problems, which in turn threatens not only the environment, but also the health of the people who live in it. In order to reduce the use of energy to help protect our planet and our health, the diamond mining industry has implemented renewable energy programs to monitor energy and carbon emission. Since its beginning, mining company PHP Billiton program has saved an equivalent of one million liters of diesel fuel per year at their Ekati Diamond Mine in Canada’s Northwest Territories. The health of the environment and the health of humanity are as one. Whatever we do to our planet, we do to ourselves. Reducing energy consumption of diamond mining not only helps protect our planet, but also helps protect the health of our people.
It should also be noted, that brass and steel have great recycling benefits. Understandably, this may not have been a deciding factor for choice of materials during the industrial revolution. None the less both alloys can be heated to the point they can be returned to a molten state and reformed into raw construction billets ready for future use.
However, nuclear energy is not the only source of energy that can produce a plethora of energy. There are not only cheaper options, but safer ones as well. Nuclear disaster are devastating events and will have massive implications on the environment. Also, the long term storage of nuclear waste is a problem that still exists and has not been solved for sixty years. Hydroelectric energy is not only che...
Lins, C., & Horwitz, E. (2007). Sustainability in the Mining Sector. Retrieved November 6, 2017, from http://www.fbds.org.br/IMG/pdf/doc-295.pdf
In addition to the fact that solar, wind, and hydro power are local resources, they are also emission free resources. Emissions and pollution are a key concern with traditional power sources. The coal-fired plants that dominate U.S. energy production also produce more emissions than any other energy source. “Em...
For hundreds, even thousands of years, human beings have mined for metals and stones, and with the advent of greater technology as well as greater needs, the demands for these resources continue to grow. While these resources benefit our lives in many ways, the effects of mining can be detrimental, and one such effect is the topic of this essay, acid mine drainage (A.M.D.). The causes of A.M.D. will be discussed, along with some of the physical and biological problems associated with it. Some prevention and remediation treatments will also be considered.
These burdens are amplified as the area is further urbanized; increasing demands for fossilized fuels, food, water, and property for additional urban construction. The impact of industrialization has transformed human life and produced extensive ecological deviations. In order to understand how the environmental impacts of ever expanding industrialized technology might linger to impact our health and that of our environment, we offer facts that should be studied. This paper suggests that extra research be conducted to enhance perception concerning advancing modern technology disadvantageous consequences on the safety of humans and their surrounding environment. Manufacturing of Energy Resources.
Though it has had many negative impacts on the environment in the past, mining is a vital industry completely necessary to our economy and lives. Nearly every item we use or encounter in our day to day lives is mined or contains mined products. Without the excavation of such materials things like computers, televisions, large building structures, electricity, and cars would not be possible. Virtually every technological and medical advance uses minded materials, without which millions would suffer. Some examples of minerals in the home include the telephone which is made from as many as 42 different minerals, including aluminum, beryllium, coal, copper, gold, iron, silver, and talc. A television requires over 35 different minerals, and more than 30 minerals are needed to make a single personal computer. Without boron, copper, gold and quartz, your digital alarm clock would not work. Every American uses an average 47,000 pounds of newly mined materials each year, which is higher than all other countries with the exception of Japan, which is a staggering figure representative of our dependence and need for mined minerals. Coal makes up more than half of nation’s electricity, and will continue to be the largest electrical supplier into 2020 & accounting for some 95 percent of the nation's fossil energy reserves – nine of every ten short-tons of coal mined in the United States is used for electricity generation. As the population of the world grows more mineral resources must be exploited through mining in order to support the rising demand for such products. Though it may present a hazard to the environment and those physically located nears the mines, the materials extracted from mines...
Next, hydro-electricity is electricity produced by moving water, flowing past a turbine connected to a generator (“Hydropower”). According to Nationalgeographic.c...
Recycling aluminum is the process by which scrap/ used aluminum can be reused into new and differe...
Hydropower, the use of water to power machinery or produce electricity, provides the most renewable energy in the United States, and uses alternating current in most modern plants ("Hydropower…”). Hydropower relies on the water cycle and is a clean fuel source; it doesn’t pollute the environment like plants that burn fossil fuels. It is by far the most efficient way to generate electricity, being half the cost of using nuclear power, two-fifths the cost of using fossil fuels, and a quarter the cost of using natural gas ("Wind and Water…”). Also, hydropower is not subject to market fluctuations of embargos, and the average lifespan of a facility is 100 years. Hydropower also has many non-energy benefits such as water supply, flood control, navigation, irrigation, and recreation. However, it does face many environmental challenges such as impacts to aquatic habitats, aesthetic alterations of landscapes, changes to water quality, and interruptions of marine life ("Hydropower…”).
The developed world rarely pauses to think of the prevalent necessity of energy in our lives. As the global population nears 9 billion people in 2040 (1), we are not only challenged to provide for basic needs, but to also improve living standards worldwide. These challenges require a global energy increase of approximately 35% (1). The challenge may seem intimidating, but the human race has demonstrated an exceptional ability to overcome difficulties and progress. An important aspect to improve worldwide living standards involves the environment. The most important needs in many areas of the world are cleaner air and access to cleaner water. Nations need to continue to address risks associated with rising greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Protecting the environment and preventing these increases pose technological challenges for us today as well as the generations of the future. To overcome these challenges it is going to be necessary for many engineers of many disciplines to be involved. However the most significant problem we face is to produce this energy in a sustainable manner. Achieving this sustainability is a matter of using processes that are less wasteful, developing technologies that are more efficient, and finding cleaner energy sources. My motivation for pursuing the MSc in Mechanical Engineering with a track of Sustainable Energy and Process Technology (SPET) is that I believe that this program will give me the skills, education, networks, and contact with industry necessary to be able to make a difference in the world’s constant search for increasingly sustainable energy sources. Additionally I have always found the concepts of process optimization to reduce generation of waste and contaminants, fluid mechanics, ther...
South Africa wastes lots of money on non renewable energy sources in order to create electricity for example coal. The building of Wind Turbines, Hydroelectric power plants etc. Are costly, but once built are free as they use renewable energy sources. They do not contribute to global warming unlike nuclear power plant which is extremely bad for the air. There is also a risk of an accident such as the Chernobyl accident.
In our days, mining for resources is inevitable. The resources we need are valuable in everyday life. Such resources mined up are coal, copper, gold, silver, and sand. However, mining poses environmental risks that can degrade the quality of soil and water, which can end up effecting us humans if not taken care of and many of the damages are irreversible once they have occurred.
Asano, T., Burton, F., Leverenz, H., Tsuchihashi, R., Tchobanoglous, G. (2007). Water Reuse: Issues, Technologies, and Applications. New York: McGraw-Hill