A multilevel sustainability analysis of zinc recovery from wastes

Abstract As waste generation increases with increasing population, regulations become stricter to control and mitigate environmental emissions of substances, e.g. heavy metals such as zinc and copper. Recovering these resources from wastes is the key interest of industries. The objective of this paper is the sustainability and feasibility evaluations of zinc recovery from waste streams. Sustainability and feasibility of a resource recovery strategy from wastes in a circular economy are governed by avoided environmental impacts and cost-effective transformation of an environmental contaminant into a valuable resource, e.g. as a coproduct by making use of an existing infrastructure as much as possible. This study, for the first time, gives a comprehensive overview of secondary sources and processes of recovering zinc, its stock analysis by country, regional and global divisions by a Sankey diagram, policies to regulate zinc emissions and avoided environmental impacts by zinc recovery. Two representative cases are further investigated for economic feasibility analysis of zinc recovery from (1) steelmaking dust and (2) municipal solid waste (MSW). The amount and value of zinc that can be generated from dust emitted from various steelmaking technologies are estimated. Additional revenues for the steelmaking industrial sector (with electric arc furnace), at the plant, national (UK), regional (EU) and global levels are 11, 12, 169 and 1670 million tonne/y, or 19–143, 20–157, 287–2203 and 2834–21740 million €/y, respectively. The second case study entails an integrated mechanical biological treatment (MBT) system of MSW consisting of metal recovery technologies, anaerobic digestion, refuse derived fuel (RDF) incineration and combined heat and power (CHP) generation. An effective economic value analysis methodology has been adopted to analyse the techno-economic feasibility of the integrated MBT system. The value analysis shows that an additional economic margin of 500 € can be generated from the recovery of 1 t of zinc in the integrated MBT system enhancing its overall economic margin by 9%.

[1]  Shi Chen,et al.  Metallic ions catalysis for improving bioleaching yield of Zn and Mn from spent Zn-Mn batteries at high pulp density of 10. , 2015, Journal of hazardous materials.

[2]  H. Ali,et al.  Phytoremediation of heavy metals--concepts and applications. , 2013, Chemosphere.

[3]  X. Querol,et al.  Purification of metal electroplating waste waters using zeolites. , 2003, Water research.

[4]  T. Havlík,et al.  Acidic leaching both of zinc and iron from basic oxygen furnace sludge. , 2011, Journal of hazardous materials.

[5]  Z. Murthy,et al.  Preparation, characterization and performance of nanofiltration membranes for the treatment of electroplating industry effluent , 2009 .

[6]  Kamalesh Kumar,et al.  Microalgae - A promising tool for heavy metal remediation. , 2015, Ecotoxicology and environmental safety.

[7]  H. Hashemipour,et al.  Zinc ion adsorption on carbon nanotubes in an aqueous solution , 2012 .

[8]  Jhuma Sadhukhan,et al.  Economic and environmental impact marginal analysis of biorefinery products for policy targets , 2014 .

[9]  M. Kazemipour,et al.  Removal of lead, cadmium, zinc, and copper from industrial wastewater by carbon developed from walnut, hazelnut, almond, pistachio shell, and apricot stone. , 2008, Journal of hazardous materials.

[10]  Alexander Lux,et al.  Zinc in plants. , 2007, The New phytologist.

[11]  K. K. Fedje,et al.  Bioelectrochemical recovery of Cu, Pb, Cd, and Zn from dilute solutions. , 2012, Journal of hazardous materials.

[12]  Jong-Hyeon Lee,et al.  Reduction Kinetics of Zinc Powder from Brass Converter Slag by Pyrometallurgical Method Using Hydrogen Gas , 2016 .

[13]  Rudolf Reuther,et al.  Metals in society and in the environment : A Critical review of current knowledge on fluxes, speciation, bioavailability and risk for adverse effects of copper, chromium, nickel and zinc , 2005 .

[14]  S. Mehta,et al.  Removal of heavy metals from aqueous solution by common freshwater filamentous algae , 2007 .

[15]  M. Ahmaruzzaman,et al.  Industrial wastes as low-cost potential adsorbents for the treatment of wastewater laden with heavy metals. , 2011, Advances in colloid and interface science.

[16]  Dace Āriņa,et al.  The Cost-estimation of Mechanical Pre-treatment Lines of Municipal Solid Waste in Latvia , 2014 .

[17]  I. Ruíz,et al.  Heavy metal removal in an UASB-CW system treating municipal wastewater. , 2013, Chemosphere.

[18]  M. Ashraf,et al.  Heavy metals accumulation in plants growing in ex tin mining catchment , 2011 .

[19]  F. Malcata,et al.  Capacity of simultaneous removal of zinc and cadmium from contaminated media, by two microalgae isolated from a polluted site , 2011 .

[20]  Xiyan Yang,et al.  Phytoremediation of heavy metals assisted by plant growth promoting (PGP) bacteria: A review , 2015 .

[21]  Nan Zhang,et al.  Analytical optimisation of industrial systems and applications to refineries, petrochemicals , 2004 .

[22]  C. Chakrabarti,et al.  Chemical speciation of Co, Ni, Cu, and Zn in mine effluents and effects of dilution of the effluent on release of the above metals from their metal-dissolved organic carbon (DOC) complexes. , 2006, Analytica chimica acta.

[23]  J. Penya-roja,et al.  Biological nitrate removal from wastewater of a metal-finishing industry. , 2007, Journal of hazardous materials.

[24]  Tonni Agustiono Kurniawan,et al.  PHYSICO-CHEMICAL TREATMENT TECHNIQUES FOR WASTEWATER LADEN WITH HEAVY METALS , 2006 .

[25]  L. Charerntanyarak.  Heavy metals removal by chemical coagulation and precipitation , 1999 .

[26]  C. Akmil-Başar,et al.  Preparation, structural evaluation and adsorptive properties of activated carbon from agricultural waste biomass , 2015 .

[27]  Yalong Liao,et al.  Separating and Recycling of Fe, Cu, Zn from Dumped Copper Slag by Microwave IrradiationAssisted Carbothermic Method , 2016 .

[28]  P. Tsakiridis,et al.  Hydrometallurgical process for zinc recovery from electric arc furnace dust (EAFD). Part II: Downstream processing and zinc recovery by electrowinning. , 2010, Journal of hazardous materials.

[29]  Nan Zhang,et al.  Value Analysis of Complex Systems and Industrial Application to Refineries , 2003 .

[30]  K. Vijayaraghavan,et al.  Seaweeds for the remediation of wastewaters contaminated with zinc(II) ions. , 2006, Journal of Hazardous Materials.

[31]  K. Wessells,et al.  Estimating the Global Prevalence of Zinc Deficiency: Results Based on Zinc Availability in National Food Supplies and the Prevalence of Stunting , 2012, PloS one.

[32]  T. Depci,et al.  Competitive adsorption of lead and zinc from aqueous solution on activated carbon prepared from Van apple pulp: Study in single- and multi-solute systems , 2012 .

[33]  J. Rubio,et al.  Removal of heavy metal ions by adsorptive particulate flotation , 1997 .

[34]  Abdul Khaliq,et al.  Metal Extraction Processes for Electronic Waste and Existing Industrial Routes: A Review and Australian Perspective , 2014 .

[35]  G. Civelekoglu,et al.  Acidic leaching and precipitation of zinc and manganese from spent battery powders using various reductants. , 2010, Journal of hazardous materials.

[36]  M. Kul,et al.  Separation and recovery of valuable metals from real mix electroplating wastewater by solvent extraction , 2015 .

[37]  Zaini Ujang,et al.  Application of low-pressure reverse osmosis membrane for Zn2+ and Cu2+ removal from wastewater , 1996 .

[38]  Jonathan M Cullen,et al.  Mapping the global flow of aluminum: from liquid aluminum to end-use goods. , 2013, Environmental science & technology.

[39]  A. Prasad.  Discovery of Human Zinc Deficiency: Its Impact on Human Health and Disease , 2013, Advances in nutrition.

[40]  Jurg Keller,et al.  Bioelectrochemical Systems: From Extracellular Electron Transfer to Biotechnological Application , 2009 .

[41]  Youcai Zhao,et al.  Characterization and environmental risk assessment of heavy metals in construction and demolition wastes from five sources (chemical, metallurgical and light industries, and residential and recycled aggregates) , 2015, Environmental Science and Pollution Research.

[42]  C. Basha,et al.  Heavy metals removal from copper smelting effluent using electrochemical filter press cells , 2011 .

[43]  Z. Güçlü,et al.  Toxicity and Removal of Zinc in the Three Species (Acutodesmus obliquus, Desmodesmus subspicatus and Desmodesmus armatus) Belonging to the Family, Scenedesmaceae (Chlorophyta) , 2012 .

[44]  Hong Liu,et al.  Efficacy of single-chamber microbial fuel cells for removal of cadmium and zinc with simultaneous electricity production. , 2014, Water research.

[45]  Enzo Lombi,et al.  Assessing the potential for zinc and cadmium phytoremediation with the hyperaccumulator Thlaspi caerulescens , 2003, Plant and Soil.

[46]  F. Medici,et al.  Thermal treatment for recovery of manganese and zinc from zinc-carbon and alkaline spent batteries. , 2012, Waste management.

[47]  R. Juang,et al.  Metal removal from aqueous solutions using chitosan-enhanced membrane filtration , 2000 .

[48]  R. Shawabkeh.  Hydrometallurgical extraction of zinc from Jordanian electric arc furnace dust , 2010 .

[49]  Neama A. Reiad,et al.  A study of the removal characteristics of heavy metals from wastewater by low-cost adsorbents , 2011 .

[50]  K. Pyrzyńska,et al.  Adsorption of heavy metal ions with carbon nanotubes , 2007 .

[51]  Jhuma Sadhukhan,et al.  A critical review of integration analysis of microbial electrosynthesis (MES) systems with waste biorefineries for the production of biofuel and chemical from reuse of CO2 , 2016 .

[52]  Jhuma Sadhukhan,et al.  Economic value and environmental impact (EVEI) analysis of biorefinery systems , 2013 .

[53]  M. Kitis,et al.  Reductive leaching of manganese and zinc from spent alkaline and zinc–carbon batteries in acidic media , 2009 .

[54]  Dinesh Mohan,et al.  Single- and multi-component adsorption of cadmium and zinc using activated carbon derived from bagasse--an agricultural waste. , 2002, Water research.

[55]  A. Häkkinen,et al.  Recovery of valuable metals from argon oxygen decarburization (AOD) dusts by leaching, filtration and solvent extraction , 2013 .

[56]  M. Ashraf,et al.  Arsenic, Zinc, and Aluminium Removal from Gold Mine Wastewater Effluents and Accumulation by Submerged Aquatic Plants (Cabomba piauhyensis, Egeria densa, and Hydrilla verticillata) , 2013, BioMed research international.

[57]  Yutao Wang,et al.  Bioleaching of zinc and manganese from spent Zn-Mn batteries and mechanism exploration. , 2012, Bioresource technology.

[58]  Heming Wang,et al.  Bioelectrochemical metal recovery from wastewater: a review. , 2014, Water research.

[59]  M. Yabe,et al.  Heavy metals removal in industrial effluents by sequential adsorbent treatment , 2003 .

[60]  Carlos Alberto Mendes Moraes,et al.  Chemical, physical, structural and morphological characterization of the electric arc furnace dust. , 2006, Journal of hazardous materials.

[61]  B. Xie,et al.  Preparation of zinc nano structured particles from spent zinc manganese batteries by vacuum separation and inert gas condensation , 2015 .

[62]  Xiaoe Yang,et al.  Effects of Zinc on Root Morphology and Antioxidant Adaptations of Cadmium-Treated Sedum alfredii H. , 2009 .

[63]  M. Sakakibara,et al.  Phytoremediation of heavy metal‐contaminated water and sediment by Eleocharis acicularis , 2011 .

[64]  S. Mehta,et al.  Use of Algae for Removing Heavy Metal Ions From Wastewater: Progress and Prospects , 2005, Critical reviews in biotechnology.

[65]  A. Khalique,et al.  Multivariate analysis of selected metals in tannery effluents and related soil. , 2005, Journal of hazardous materials.

[66]  Eric Forssberg,et al.  Mechanical recycling of waste electric and electronic equipment: a review. , 2003, Journal of hazardous materials.

[67]  B. E. Malayeri,et al.  Removal of heavy metals by native accumulator plants , 2007 .

[68]  Pradip Bhattacharyya,et al.  Municipal Solid Waste Generation, Composition, and Management: The World Scenario , 2012 .

[69]  V. Schalch,et al.  Recycling of electric arc furnace (EAF) dust for use in steel making process , 2014 .

[70]  H. Salsali,et al.  Heavy Metal Removal (Copper and Zinc) in Secondary Effluent from Wastewater Treatment Plants by Microalgae , 2014 .

[71]  R. Qiu,et al.  Lead, zinc, cadmium hyperaccumulation and growth stimulation in Arabis paniculata Franch , 2009 .

[72]  S. M. Kanawade,et al.  Removal of Zinc Ions from Industrial Effluent by Using Cork Powder as Adsorbent , 2011 .

[73]  D. Pant,et al.  Enzymatic Electrosynthesis: An Overview on the Progress in Enzyme- Electrodes for the Production of Electricity, Fuels and Chemicals , 2013 .

[74]  A. Landi,et al.  Removal of zinc from a metal plating wastewater using an Iranian sepiolite: determination of optimum conditions , 2015 .

[75]  E. Valsamidou,et al.  Removal of nickel, copper, zinc and chromium from synthetic and industrial wastewater by electrocoagulation , 2011 .

[76]  Alan J Guwy,et al.  Augmenting Microbial Fuel Cell power by coupling with Supported Liquid Membrane permeation for zinc recovery. , 2014, Water research.

[77]  E. Lipczynska-Kochany,et al.  Effect of humate on biological treatment of wastewater containing heavy metals. , 2009, Chemosphere.

[78]  A. Paruch,et al.  Treatment of tunnel wash waters--experiments with organic sorbent materials. Part II: Removal of toxic metals. , 2008, Journal of environmental sciences.

[79]  Toraj Mohammadi,et al.  Adsorption of divalent heavy metal ions from water using carbon nanotube sheets. , 2011, Journal of hazardous materials.

[80]  B. A. Wills,et al.  Mineral Processing Technology: An Introduction to the Practical Aspects of Ore Treatment and Mineral Recovery , 1988 .

[81]  Boyd Davis,et al.  Characterization of basic oxygen furnace dust and zinc removal by acid leaching , 2004 .

[82]  D. Ramya,et al.  Bioremoval of Chromium, Nickel And Zinc in Electroplating Effluent by Pseudomonas aeruginosa , 2014 .

[83]  S. Olsen,et al.  Bioelectrochemical systems (BES) for sustainable energy production and product recovery from organic wastes and industrial wastewaters , 2012 .

[84]  Jhuma Sadhukhan,et al.  Biorefineries and Chemical Processes: Design, Integration and Sustainability Analysis , 2014 .

[85]  L. V. A. Gurgel,et al.  Removal of Zn2+ from Electroplating Wastewater Using Modified Wood Sawdust and Sugarcane Bagasse , 2009 .

[86]  Zhenli He,et al.  Phytoremediation of heavy metal polluted soils and water: Progresses and perspectives , 2008, Journal of Zhejiang University SCIENCE B.

[87]  C. Jianjun,et al.  Hyperaccumulation of Pb, Zn and Cd in herbaceous grown on lead-zinc mining area in Yunnan, China. , 2005, Environment international.

[88]  J. Hazemann,et al.  Determination of zinc speciation in basic oxygen furnace flying dust by chemical extractions and X-ray spectroscopy. , 2008, Chemosphere.

[89]  P. Tsakiridis,et al.  Hydrometallurgical process for zinc recovery from electric arc furnace dust (EAFD): part I: Characterization and leaching by diluted sulphuric acid. , 2010, Journal of hazardous materials.

[90]  N. Choudary,et al.  Activated carbon from Ceiba pentandra hulls, an agricultural waste, as an adsorbent in the removal of lead and zinc from aqueous solutions. , 2008, Waste management.

[91]  Jhuma Sadhukhan,et al.  Value analysis tool for feasibility studies of biorefineries integrated with value added production , 2008 .

[92]  Heming Wang,et al.  Bioelectrochemical system platform for sustainable environmental remediation and energy generation. , 2015, Biotechnology advances.

[93]  Alan J. M. Baker,et al.  TERRESTRIAL HIGHER PLANTS WHICH HYPERACCUMULATE METALLIC ELEMENTS. A REVIEW OF THEIR DISTRIBUTION, ECOLOGY AND PHYTOCHEMISTRY , 1989 .

[94]  Shi Chen,et al.  Bioleaching mechanism of Zn, Pb, In, Ag, Cd and As from Pb/Zn smelting slag by autotrophic bacteria. , 2015, Journal of environmental management.

[95]  Deborah Panepinto,et al.  Economic and environmental comparison between two scenarios of waste management: MBT vs thermal treatment , 2015 .

[96]  Ata Akcil,et al.  A review of technologies for the recovery of metals from spent alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries , 2009 .

[97]  Vinod K. Gupta,et al.  Chemical treatment technologies for waste-water recycling—an overview , 2012 .

[98]  Wei Wu,et al.  Biosorption of copper(II) and zinc(II) from aqueous solution by Pseudomonas putida CZ1. , 2005, Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces.

[99]  Liming Liu,et al.  Effects of mining wastewater discharges on heavy metal pollution and soil enzyme activity of the paddy fields , 2014 .

[100]  B. Šimić,et al.  Determination of zinc concentrations in foods of animal origin, fish and shellfish from Croatia and assessment of their contribution to dietary intake , 2014 .

[101]  W. Adey,et al.  Purification of industrially contaminated groundwaters using controlled ecosystems , 1996 .

[102]  Yan Zhao,et al.  Heavy metal source analysis in municipal solid waste (MSW): case study on Cu and Zn. , 2011, Journal of hazardous materials.

[103]  M F Colmenarejo,et al.  Heavy metals removal from acid mine drainage water using biogenic hydrogen sulphide and effluent from anaerobic treatment: effect of pH. , 2009, Journal of hazardous materials.

[104]  Jingxing Ma,et al.  Behavior of metal ions in bioelectrochemical systems: A review , 2015 .

[105]  Jhuma Sadhukhan,et al.  Novel integrated mechanical biological chemical treatment (MBCT) systems for the production of levulinic acid from fraction of municipal solid waste: A comprehensive techno-economic analysis. , 2016, Bioresource technology.

[106]  A. Mojiri.  Phytoremediation of heavy metals from municipal wastewater by Typhadomingensis , 2012 .

[107]  Paul T. Williams.  Waste Treatment and Disposal , 1998 .