US EPA

6128497 

Journal Article 

Carbon Footprint of Aluminum Production: Emissions and Mitigation 

Gautam, M; Pandey, B; Agrawal, M 

2018 

Butterworth-Heinemann 

Environmental Carbon Footprints 

197-228 

10.1016/B978-0-12-812849-7.00008-8 

WOS:000450057100008 

http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/B9780128128497000088
Exit
 

Increasing concern about global climate change is enabling many industries to pursue projects on “carbon footprint” to estimate their own contributions to the changing climate. About 21% of global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are contributed by industrial sector, of which aluminum industries accounted for ∼1.0%. The chapter aims to assess the nature of pollutants and emission scenario of GHGs from different processes of aluminum production. A cradle-to-grave life cycle assessment of aluminum industry showed dominant emissions of carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxide, hydrofluorocarbons, perfluorocarbons, and sulfur hexafluoride. In view of these, target to cut down carbon emissions up to 50% by 2050 cannot be accomplished by just making policies and regulations, but could only be achieved through reduced demand for final goods, and other existing and developing strategies to mitigate carbon emissions. The chapter consolidates available information on carbon emissions from aluminum production and existing and emerging technologies (reformation of conventional technologies in aluminum production, recycling of waste aluminum products and carbon trading) to alleviate carbon emissions, with an intent to provide well-structured database of available information on mitigation of carbon emissions. 

Aluminum industry; Carbon footprint; Climate change; Greenhouse gases; Life cycle assessment; Mitigation strategies 

Muthu, Subramanian Senthilkannan