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How much sorting is required for a circular low carbon aluminum economy?

Julien Pedneault, Guillaume Majeau-Bettez et Manuele Margni

Article de revue (2023)

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Abstract

Aluminum recycling follows a downcycling dynamic where wrought alloys are transformed into cast alloys, accumulating tramp elements at every cycle. With the saturation of stocks of aluminum and the reduction of the demand for cast alloy due to electrification of transport, improvement in the recycling system must be made to avoid a surplus of unused recycled aluminum, reduce the overall environmental impacts of the industry, and move toward a circular economy. We aim to evaluate the potential environmental benefits of improving sorting efforts by combining operations research, prospective material flow analysis, and life cycle assessment. An optimization defines the optimal sorting to minimize climate change impacts according to different sorting efforts, dismantling conditions, and collection rates. Results show how the improvement of sorting can reduce by around 30% the greenhouse gas emissions of the industry, notably by reducing unused scrap generation and increasing the recycled content of the flows that supply the demand of aluminum. The best performance is achievable with four different sorting pathways. Further improvements occur with a better dismantling and an increase of collection rates, but it requires more sorting pathways. Results point to different closed-loop recycling initiatives that should be promoted on priority in specific sectors, like the building and construction sector and the aluminum cans industry. To implement a better material circularity, the mobilization of different stakeholders is needed. From a wider perspective, the article shows how operations research can be used to project a circular future in a specific industry.

Mots clés

aluminum; circular economy; industrial ecology; materials management; optimization; recycling

Sujet(s): 1500 Génie de l'environnement > 1500 Génie de l'environnement
1600 Génie industriel > 1600 Génie industriel
1800 Génie chimique > 1800 Génie chimique
Département: Département de génie chimique
Département de mathématiques et de génie industriel
Centre de recherche: CIRAIG - Centre international de référence sur le cycle de vie des produits, procédés et services
Organismes subventionnaires: Arcelor-Mittal, Hydro-Québec, LVMH, Michelin, Nestlé, Optel, Solvay, TotalEnergies, Umicore
URL de PolyPublie: https://publications.polymtl.ca/10848/
Titre de la revue: Journal of Industrial Ecology (vol. 27, no 3)
Maison d'édition: Wiley Blackwell
DOI: 10.1111/jiec.13388
URL officielle: https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13388
Date du dépôt: 12 avr. 2023 10:20
Dernière modification: 01 juil. 2023 12:22
Citer en APA 7: Pedneault, J., Majeau-Bettez, G., & Margni, M. (2023). How much sorting is required for a circular low carbon aluminum economy? Journal of Industrial Ecology, 27(3), 977-992. https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13388

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