ENERGY EXPENDITURES ASSOCIATED WITH THE PRODUCTION AND RECYCLE OF METALS

摘要

Since the presently used higher grade ores for a number of important metals are being depleted and future production may become more energy intensive, the equivalent coal energy requirements associated with the production of magnesium, aluminum, iron, copper, and titanium metals for varying grades of ore deposits have been evaluated. Future energy requirements for magnesium and iron production will remain essentially constant at 91,000 kwh/ton and 4656 kwh/ton, respectively. Use of poorer grade bauxite ores will not significantly change the energy requirements for aluminum (^55,000 kwh/ton);however, eventual use of clays and anorthosite will increase the consumption of energy by 28 and 40％, respectively. The energy requirements for copper and titanium are 13,530 and 126,100 kwh/ton, respectively. Since both copper and titanium have limited resources, energy expenditures will increase considerably as poorer grade ores must be used.