Cradle to Gate
Identity ID
0f5a9fcb-98a5-450e-917d-ce1e8e3fd8eb
Materials
Associated ID
f084b920-fcc5-438c-bf07-e77af34f5769
Included activities starts
Included activities ends
Description
In the pyrometallurgical smelting process, copper concentrate is smelted to produce copper matte. The molten copper matte is then blown in a converter to produce blister copper. Subsequently, the blister copper undergoes pyrometallurgical refining and is cast into anode plates. The anode copper is further refined through electrolytic refining to produce copper with a purity exceeding 99. 99% cathode copper. This dataset includes primary raw materials, auxiliary materials, energy (electricity and fuel), atmospheric emissions, water discharges, and waste from the production process. Sulfuric acid production from flue gas and the treatment of anode slimes in precious metal plants are included within the system boundary of the dataset, while infrastructure such as production equipment and facility construction, as well as employee commutes, are excluded. The life cycle inventory is compiled from data sourced from multiple origins. The production process of cathode copper comprises raw material preparation, smelting, converting, fire refining, electrolytic refining, acid production, slag flotation, utilities, and wastewater treatment.
Activity Description
The system boundary of this dataset includes the following processes: smelting and converting of copper concentrate to produce blister copper, fire refining to produce anode copper, electrolytic refining to finally obtain cathode copper, sulfuric acid production from smelting off-gas recovery, precious and rare metal recovery from anode slime treatment, and copper concentrate recovery from slag flotation.
Process Description
Copper cathode is refined from sulfide copper concentrate or oxide copper ore through pyrometallurgical or hydrometallurgical processes. It typically achieves a purity of over 99.99% and is widely used in industries such as power, air conditioning, transportation, electronics, and construction due to its excellent electrical conductivity, thermal conductivity, ductility, tensile strength, and corrosion resistance. It serves as a crucial foundation for national economic and social development.
Time period
2021
2026
Geography
China
Macroeconomic value
Business-as-Usual
Data validation
Yes
Technology
Current Technology