United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA/600/S2-85/046 June 1985
&ERA Project Summary
Sources of Copper Air Emissions
George E. Weant
A study was conducted to update
estimates of atmospheric emissions of
copper and copper compounds in the
U.S. Source categories evaluated in-
cluded: metallic minerals, primary cop-
per smelters, iron and steel, combus-
tion, municipal incineration, secondary
copper smelters, copper compound
production, iron foundries, primary lead
smelters, primary zinc smelters, ferro-
alloys, brass and bronze, and carbon
black. The study relied on data con-
tained in published literature, supple-
mented by EPA test reports and data
bases. The approach used to assess
each source category involved: (1) est-
imating total particulate emissions,
including fugitives; (2) determining the
effect of air pollution control on emis-
sions; (3) estimating the proportion of
copper contained in the total particu-
lates; and (4) estimating copper emis-
sions. Copper emissions estimates are
presented for each source category.
This Project Summary was developed
by EPA's Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory, Research Triangle
Park. NC. to announce key findings of
the research project that is fully docu-
mented in a separate report of the same
title (see Project Report ordering infor-
mation at back).
Introduction
This report provides preliminary infor-
mation on sources of air emissions of
copper and copper compounds. The 13
source categories examined in this study
were metallic minerals, primary copper
smelters, iron and steel, combustion,
municipal incinerators, secondary copper
smelters, copper compounds, iron foun-
dries, primary lead smelters, primary zinc
smelters, ferroalloys, brass and bronze,
and carbon black.
The collection of information for this
study concentrated on existing EPA and
open-literature documents. These were
supplemented with examinations of EPA
test reports and data bases (e.g., FPEIS)
for additional data.
The purpose of this study was to collect
information on the air emission sources
of copper and copper compounds. These
sources were characterized by copper
emission quantities and stack parameters
(e.g., height, flow, and temperature) on
individual plants, where possible. Each
point source within the plant was char-
acterized.
Sources of Copper Emissions
The following sources of atmospheric
emissions of copper and copper com-
pounds were investigated:
Copper mining and milling
Primary copper
Roasting
Reverberatory furnace
Converters
Materials handling
Secondary copper
Scrap production
Wire burning
Sweating furnace
Blast furnace
Smelting, reverberatory
Smelting, rotary
Iron and steel
Blast furnace
Open hearth furnace
Basic oxygen furnace
Electric arc furnace
Gray iron foundries
Miscellaneous copper metals
and alloys
Miscellaneous copper chemi-
cals and products
Incinerators
Combustion sources
Utility boilers
Coal-fired
Oil-fired
-------
Estimated Copper •
Emissions
(103kg/yr)
Industrial boilers
Coal-fired
Oil-fired
Residential/commercial boilers
Coal-fired
Oil-fired
Study Methodology
The approach used to assess each
source category for copper emissions
involved estimating total particulate emis-
sions, determining current control tech-
nologies and emission reduction, and
estimating copper emissions. Each step is
discussed below.
The estimation of total particulate
emissions was a necessary first step
because most of the copper data were in
the form of weight percentages of partic-
ulate matter. Total particulate emissions
(both process and fugitive) from each
facility in a source category were esti-
mated using emission factors derived
from either EPA summary reports or EPA
source test measurements. In some cas-
es, such as iron foundries, where indi-
vidual plants were too numerous to allow
a plant-by-plant emission estimate, total
nationwide emissions were estimated.
For most source categories, individual
plant-specific control devices were used
to estimate controlled particulate emis-
sions. For some source categories, an
overall control efficiency was assumed.
This assumption was made because of
either a large number of sources (e.g.,
combustion) or a lack of individual plant
process or control device data (e.g., brass
and bronze).
In most cases, copper weight percent-
age factors were applied to controlled
particulate emissions. Thus, the obvious
assumptions were made that copper was
present in the form of particulate matter
and was controlled at the same efficiency.
In a few cases, actual copper control
efficiencies were available.
Study Results
The following table summarizes the
estimates of copper emissions from the
source categories investigated. These
estimates are provided as ranges which
represent the variability found in the
available data.
Source
Copper and iron ore
processing
Primary copper
smelting
Iron and steel making
Coal and oil
combustion
Municipal incineration
Secondary copper
smelting
Miscellaneous sources
Copper sulfate
production
Gray iron foundries
Primary lead smelting
Primary zinc smelting
Ferroalloy production
Brass and bronze
production
Carbon black
production
480 - 660
43 - 6,000
112 - 240
45 - 360
3.3 - 270
160
45
7.9
5.5 - 65
24 - 340
1.9 - 3.2
1,8 - 36
13
G. E. Weant is with Engineering-Science, Durham, NC 27701.
Bruce A. Tichenor is the EPA Project Officer (see below).
The complete report, entitled "Sources of Copper Air Emissions," (Order No. PB
85-191 138/AS;.Cost: $11.50, subject to change) will be available only from:
National Technical Information Service
5285 Port Royal Road
Springfield, VA 22161
Telephone: 703-487-4650
The EPA Project Officer can be contacted at:
Air and Energy Engineering Research Laboratory
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
* U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE: 1985-559-016/27089
United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Center for Environmental Research
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