Recycling of Non-Ferrous Metals
Non-ferrous metals are metals which do not contain iron. They are diverse in composition and can vary in their mechanical and physical properties. Examples of these metals include aluminum, copper, lead and zinc. Non-ferrous metals are widely used in different industries, such as automotive, nuclear, aerospace, electrical and electronics, petrochemical and general engineering. Since they are so useful, they are also valuable commodities, often with a higher value than that of their base metal. Unfortunately, the use and disposal of these metals can be damaging to the environment, which is why it is so important to ensure that all unused and broken down metals are recycled, resulting in a higher recovery rate.
Recycling of non-ferrous metals has become increasingly important in recent years due to the ever-dwindling supply of fresh ore and the need to reduce emissions from manufacturing. Despite their already high reusing rate, too much of these metals end up being dumped in landfills. The recycling process helps to reduce the amount of metals that need to be mined for fresh ore and also helps to lessen the environmental impact of non-ferrous metal use and disposal.
The process of recycling non-ferrous metals begins with the separation of metals in the form of scrap. This includes anything that contains metal, such as old or broken down pieces of machinery, tools, electronics, wires and cables, car parts and so on. The metallic materials are then separated from the non-metallic materials. This process is often done manually and can also be automated. Once separated, the metals are then sorted based on their composition, such as aluminum, copper, lead and zinc.
The next step in the recycling process is to smelt the metals. This involves melting the metals at very high temperatures in order to extract the base metal. The smelting process can be done using various methods, such as electric arc furnaces, induction furnaces, reverberatory furnaces and crucible pot furnaces. The melted metal is then formed into a solid which can be resold or reused.
Finally, the recovered metal is refined and processed. The refining process depends on the metal in question and can involve smelting, casting, extracting and rolling. The metal is then sold as a new product or reused to make new products. This ensures that the metal can be used multiple times, resulting in a higher recovery rate.
Recycling of non-ferrous metals is an important process for reducing the environmental impact of metal use and disposal and for ensuring a higher recovery rate. With proper collection, sorting and processing, these metals can be reused and reused again, reducing the need for fresh ore and saving valuable resources.