Introduction:
Metals have been essential to human civilization for many thousands of years. In the midst of a broad range of applications they have found their way into virtually every aspect of our daily lives *(chemwiki, 2012). Their durable and recyclable properties should make them ideal materials for a sustainable economy *(Accenture, 2013).
They are used in highly valued products of modern technology; furthermore, they plan an essential role in renewable energy technologies and many of these technologies are likely to be used to enable us to reduce our dependence on fossils fuels *(BBC News GCSE Bitesize, Alena Moore, 2012)
Research question:
How to decrease energy costs from iron extraction?
In the following …show more content…
Recycling is one solution which can get rid of problems caused by the extraction of iron. This is done through recycling and using scrap metals instead of extracting and mining for raw materials. For example, old iron (in forms such as cars) can be melted and reused.
About 42% of iron/steel in goods manufactured is recycled (iron/steel) whether it is steel pans, car bodies, bridge girders etc. *(Doc Brown, 2013).
Through recycling, not only can production costs be reduced, however raw materials and energy can be saved as there would be no need for those raw materials to be extracted, and for iron to be extracted from hematite (main iron ore or Fe2O3).
Referring to the factors above mentioned, there additionally would be no waste products produced. Therefore, these waste materials will not be present to cause harm to the environment (global warming).
This would mean that less harmful gases would enter the atmosphere since the carbon gets …show more content…
2012)
Iron ore (hematite) Iron oxide A compound that contains iron coke carbon burns in air to produce heat, and reacts to form carbon monoxide (needed to reduce the iron oxide) limestone calcium carbonate helps to remove acidic impurities from the iron by reacting with them to form molten slag air oxygen allows the coke to burn, and so produces heat and carbon monoxide (carbon dioxide)
The environmental, social and economical factors related to the recycling iron for energy expense reduction
Advantages:
• Useful products can be made from metal to enhance our lives (Consumer products we take for granted).
• Valuable revenue if the mineral or its products are exported.
• Jobs for people, especially new sources of employment in poor countries or areas of high unemployment in developed countries. The process of recycling in addition needs man power (less unemployment) to complete process using cranes etc.
• Earnings from recycled metals go into the local/national economy resulting improvements in schools, health service and transport