Process information
| Key Data Set Information | |
| Location | CN |
| Geographical representativeness description | Central of China |
| Reference year | 2009 |
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| Use advice for data set | Users of this LCA data set should ensure they apply the data to processes and products where fire-refined cathode copper is relevant. The data reflects an average ore grade sourced from 2009 to 2013 and may require updating to reflect current mining conditions. Special attention should be given to the methodological alignment when integrating this data into broader environmental impact assessments. Specifically, users should consider the technological applicability and potential variances in regional mining practices, as well as closely adhere to the CML methodology for characterizing pollution emissions. The data set corresponds to the functional unit of 1 ton of cathode copper production and must be scaled appropriately for different applications. |
| Technical purpose of product or process | Cathode copper obtained through this industrial process is primarily used for electrical wiring, roofing, plumbing, and industrial machinery. It serves as a key raw material in electrical engineering, construction, transport manufacturing, and other heavy industries, due to its high electrical conductivity and durability. Given that the copper was obtained by pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy from ore averages in China between 2009 and 2013, this cathode copper suits large-scale applications where high purity and quality are essential. |
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| General comment on data set | Cathode copper obtained through this industrial process is primarily used for electrical wiring, roofing, plumbing, and industrial machinery. It serves as a key raw material in electrical engineering, construction, transport manufacturing, and other heavy industries, due to its high electrical conductivity and durability. Given that the copper was obtained by pyrometallurgy and hydrometallurgy from ore averages in China between 2009 and 2013, this cathode copper suits large-scale applications where high purity and quality are essential. |
| Copyright | No |
| Owner of data set | |
| Quantitative reference | |
| Reference flow(s) | |
| Functional Unit | the functional unit was defined as the production of 1 ton of cathode copper. |
| Time representativeness | |
| Data set valid until | 2013 |
| Time representativeness description | The ore grade of fire refining process is the average level of the Chinese underground and open-pit mining from 2009 to 2013, |
| Technological representativeness | |
| Technology description including background system | Heap leaching system from the ore mining stage, through crushing, heap leching, extraction, to the electrowinning stage for produce cathode copper (Fig. 1). After an open-pit mining process, the mined copper ores were trucked to the fine ore bin crushing into uniform-sized particles, followed by a sieving process. The ores filtered by sieve with a diameter of 40 mm were belted to the heap leaching field for acid leaching. The leachate was then pumped into a solvent extraction tank for extraction and stripping, and the raffinate was pumped back to the heap leaching stage for recycling. Copper is ultimately deposited on the cathode through electrowinning.Mining&Beneficiation-Transportation-Flash Smelting-Converting-Fire Refining-Electrolytic Refining |
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Modelling and validation
Administrative information
Inputs and Outputs