Material stocks and flows accounting for copper and copper-based alloys in Japan

doi:10.1016/j.resconrec.2008.11.010

Resources, Conservation and Recycling

Volume 53, Issue 4, February 2009, Pages 208-217

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.resconrec.2008.11.010 Get rights and content

Abstract

The recovery of scrap metal for recycling contributes to the conservation of natural resources and the construction of a sound material-cycle economy. Dynamic material flow analysis (MFA) allows us to investigate the potential for scrap metal recovery in a given region. This paper performs a dynamic material stock and flow analysis of copper in Japan. Previous studies paid little attention to the grade of the materials; the present paper considers the division between high-purity copper and copper alloys. The paper applies a dynamic MFA model with greater detail than many earlier studies and demonstrates an additional level of disaggregated analysis on waste flows. The analysis of differing grades of copper quantified the flow of downgraded scrap from the pure copper cycle to the copper alloy cycle. In addition, the amount of scrap collected, as estimated by the dynamic MFA, was approximately consistent with that reported in the statistics. This result indicated the validity of the parameters used in the dynamic model. The current in-use copper stock in Japan was estimated to be 18.7 Tg including the mass of alloying elements, and the amount of cumulative uncollected copper was estimated to be 9.9 Tg. This uncollected copper could have been mixed with other metals (e.g., mixed in secondary steels), incinerated with combustible waste, landfilled, or exported in several forms. The amounts of copper to these final destinations were quantified. Finally, the Japanese pure-copper cycle and copper alloy cycle for 2005 were constructed.

Section snippets

Background

Copper and copper-based alloys are pervasive materials in our technological society and are fabricated into many kinds of finished products. Copper products are used in wires and cables, connectors, sockets, and lead frames because of their high machinability and electric conductivity. Copper alloys such as brass (Cu–Zn alloys) and bronze (Cu–Sn–Al–Si alloys) have a high performance in mechanical properties and corrosion resistance. As a result, copper consumption has grown around the world,

System boundary

The dashed lines in Fig. 1 show the system boundaries for the present study, following conventions set out previously. This study considered copper in many forms, from the consumption of electrolytic cathode copper to generation of copper as scrap, waste, and exports. The high-purity copper cycle and copper alloy cycle were analyzed separately. The mining of copper ore was not taken into account as there is no working copper mine in Japan. All of the copper produced in Japan is imported as

Data on copper consumption

The domestic consumptions of copper and copper alloys, DC(i,t), were obtained mainly from two sets of statistics compiled by the Japanese Electric Wire and Cable Makers’ Association and the Japan Copper and Brass Association for electric wire and cable and copper fabricated products, respectively (JEWCMA, 1998, JEWCMA, 1957–2005, METI, 1949–1985, JCBA, 2006). In this study, copper electric wires and cables and copper in copper fabricated products are recognized as high-purity copper, as opposed

Amount of scrap collected

Fig. 3 shows the estimated amount of high-purity copper in electric wires and cables, the amount of high-purity copper in copper fabricated products, and the amount of copper alloy that was discarded and collected in Japan during the period 1950–2005, and which were recorded as IS(i,t) and F_scrap(t). These values include the amounts of industrial scrap and obsolete scrap. Fig. 3 also shows the statistics compiled for the collection of copper and copper alloy scrap. It can be clearly seen that

Conclusions

Dynamic material stock and flow analyses were performed separately for copper and copper alloy in Japan. Material stocks were analyzed in detail, and in-use stock and “uncollected materials” were quantified historically using a dynamic model. It was found that the current in-use copper stock in Japan has already saturated and is 18.7 Tg (146 kg/cap). The amount of cumulative uncollected copper was estimated to be 9.9 Tg (77 kg/cap); the main source is electric and electronic machinery. The final

Acknowledgments

This research was supported by a Waste Management Research Grant (K1810, K1930, and K2031) from Ministry of the Environment, Japan. We would like to thank Matthew J. Eckelman, and the two anonymous reviewers for their helpful suggestions and comments.

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Material stocks and flows accounting for copper and copper-based alloys in Japan

Abstract

Section snippets

Background

System boundary

Data on copper consumption

Amount of scrap collected

Conclusions

Acknowledgments

Resour Conserv Recycl

Resour Conserv Recycl

Waste Manage

Ecol Econ

Resour Conserv Recycl

Ecol Econ

Ecol Econ

Haikibutu Genryoka notameno Shakai Sisutemu no Hyoka ni Kansuru Chosakenkyu- Hitetesu Kinzoku Sozai niokeru Junkangatakeizai Sisutemu no Arikata ni Kansuru Chosakenkyu Hokokusho

Development of a dynamic model for assessing environmental impact associated with cyclic use of steel

Tetsu-to-Hagane: J Iron Steel Inst Jpn

Accounting for steel stock in Japan

ISIJ Int

Metal stocks and sustainability

Proc Natl Acad Sci USA

Multilevel cycle of anthropogenic copper

Environ Sci Technol

Dynamic substance flow analysis of aluminum and its alloying elements

Mater Trans

Dynamic material flow analysis for stainless steel in Japan—reduction potential of CO2 emissions by promoting closed loop recycling of stainless steel

ISIJ Int

JIS H3100:2006

Do-kuzu Bunrui Kijun no Kaisei notameno Do-kei Sukurappu no Torihiki Jittai Chosahoukokusho

Yearbook of electric wire & cable statistics

Technical information No. 107 “Service life of electric wire and cable”

Nihon Densen Kogyokai Goju-nenshi

Dynamic material flow analysis for stainless steel in Japan—reduction potential of CO₂ emissions by promoting closed loop recycling of stainless steel