INTRODUCTION:

Let us look about the non ferrous industry in India at a glance –

Metal	Production in 2009-10 (MT)	Outlook for 2020 in (MT)
Aluminium	1.25	3.0
copper	0.8	2.0
Zinc	0.58	2.0
Lead	0.06	0.12
Uranium	0.00012	0.0003

There are other nonferrous metals like Mg, Ti, Mn, Cr, etc. but their production level is not of significant

Production of major metals will more than double in the next 10 years [1] or so. This will mean higher rate

Of mineral processing, higher rate of concentration of minerals, higher rate of Smelting with consequent higher rate of pollution and emission of CO₂ .

Aluminium-

Growth of aluminium industry is highest amongst non ferrous metals.

Chart shows the fact-[2]

Activity	Capacity in 2009-MT	Outlook for 2020-MT
Bauxite mining	7	18
Alumina refining	3	7.5
Smelting	1.25	3.0
Sheet Rolling	0.36	0.5
Foil Rolling	0.036	0.045
extrusion	0.20	0.40
Wire drawing	0.30	0.40
Wire drawing	0.30	0.40
Casting	0.25	0.50

Production of 1 ton of aluminium creates 2 ton of REDMUD, 10 ton of fly ash and 21 ton of CO₂. While 40% of fly ash has found industrial applications. The balance quantity is still a major pollution cause.

People are yet to find a suitable application for red mud in substantial quantity. besides reuse of discarded potlining continuous to be a concern.pre backed carbon anode creates 3 ton of CO₂.(1.5 ton of carbon consumption and another 1.5 ton for anode effect.) per tonnnes of aluminium production which can be reduced to zero shoud anybody can find an inert anode as replacement for carbon anode. Another 18 tone of CO₂ are generated during production of coal, gas or oil based electric power, needed for production of 1 tone of aluminium.

Country like Canada etc where hydroelectric or nuclear power is used for electrolysis, the above 18 ton of CO₂ is avoided in a smelting pot the gaseous fluorides are produced in the form of hydrogen flouride as a result of reaction between aluminium fluoride and cryolite with hydrogen. The entire quantity of hydrogen fluoride is absorbed by inflow of Al₂O₃, counter current to the flow of flouride.

Al recycling is low energy is low cost, low energy and less polluting activity. Recycling is highly popular with over 90% collection of used beverage cans and auto/ electric casting. Technology and process parameters are also different for those two types of recycling. Recycling prevents loss of biodiversity, soil erosion and conserves mineral resources for future generations.

Copper –

The traditional cu extraction process is based on roasting and smelting of cu sulphide ore with production of cu matte (Cu-Fe sulphide), conversion of matter[3] to Blister cu and finally electrorefining to pure cu cathodes. The process consumes energy to the tune of 30 Mwh as against 75 Mwh for al and 8 Mwh for steel. Flash smelting consumes half the energy as it utilizes the energy released by the oxidation of s. 20 t of SO₂ are released per tone of Cu production. SO₂ is fully recoverded as s and H₂SO₄. Secondary production of Cu is highly economical as it consumes only 10 Mwh energy per tone of cu and less polluting as it reduces CO₂ emission substantially. 3 tones of solid waste are generated per tone of cu production. It is used for land filling.

Zinc -

Zinc is also associated with sulphide minerals and hence in the pyrometallurgical⁵ process SO₂ is produced as gaseous product which is fully recovered as s and H₂SO₄. Zn as such is not polluting.

In India 70% of Zn is used for galvanizing steels and the balance 30% is used for dry cells, die casting, alloys and chemicals. Growth of Zn is therefore closely linked to the growth of steels, while steel production will grow from 60 Mt in 2009 to 200Mt in 2020.

Zn is a life friendly metal it is an essential micronutrient for human metabolism, agriculture and animals. Waste from Zn industry collected as Zn dust /ash, skimmings etc are essential raw material for recovery of Zn as industrial and agricultural chemicals.

Lead–

Industrial demand for Pb is currently 0.35 mt/year as against domestic production of only 0.06 mt. high demand is mate through import and recycling. the world over 50% of lead demand is met through recycling of used lead acid batteries. Current Ausmelt technology for Pb smelting is eco friendly.

Zn, Pb is also associated with sulphide mineral and hence gives rice to SO₂ which is fully recovered as H₂SO₄. Pb is hazardous to human healyh. In the reduction process Pb vapouris condenced in liqid Zn and thyen gravity separated.

In 2010 274 Pb recycling units are registered with pollution control board. The exact fig. of recycled Pb is unknown, while the organized recycling units operate on eco friendly technology.

75% of Pb is used for manufacture of lead batteries, 20% is used for alloys and chemicals and 5 % is used for nuclear plant and cable sheating.

Uranium-

Known uranium in India is limited. 1000 M w power plant consumes 30 t/year. Current nuclear power capacity in India is 4000 Mw. India has a capacity to produce 10000 Mw nuclear power. Uranium 238 is a fertile isotopes may enhance the nuclear power generating capacity to 200000 Mw by 2052.this will account for 16% of the total energy mix, produced by then. Once thorium (abundantly available in India) technology for nuclear power is established.

Management of radioactive wastes is complex and hazardous. Radioactive wastes are generated at various stages of nuclear fuel cycle. These are –

1- Mining and milling of U ore.

2- Fuel fabrication.

3- Reactor operation.

4- Spent fuel reprocessing.

Three options exist for management [6] of nuclear wastes –

1- Concentration and contain

2- Dilute and discharge.

3- Delay and decay.

The steps followed in waste treatment are –

1- Collection

2- Segregation

3- Treatment

4- Conditioning

5- Interim storage

6- Disposal.

Gaseous and liquid wastes with low levels of radioactivity are let off through tall chimney or discharged in large water bodies.

Mercury-

Air Pollution: - Mercury pollution of the air comes from a few major sources; the combustion of fossil fuels (as in coal and gas-fired power stations), release from metal smelters, and from the incineration of mercury-containing products, such as electronic devices and batteries. In the US, using data submitted by power companies to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), the non-profit Environmental Working Group[7] reported that in 1999 about 98,000 lbs (49 tons) of mercury were emitted directly into the atmosphere by coal-burning power plants. The US and other nations have now enacted regulations on mercury emissions.

Cadmium-

Cadmium is present in the environment and is also widely used in industry and the manufacture of many moder goods.

Sources of Cadmium:

Smoking - The tobacco plant is one of a group of crops that are particularly efficient at taking up and storing cadmium from the soil. Cigarette smoking therefore significantly increases the amount of cadmium in the body.

Air Pollution - Due to its widespread use in industry, substantial amounts of cadmium end up in the air. The major source of airborne cadmium[8] is smelters but other significant sources include the burning of fossil fuels and the incineration of municipal waste containing cadmium such as plastics and nickel-cadmium (Ni-Cd) batteries; airborne cadmium may also be derived from iron and steel works.

Pictorial representation of data:

Data [9]

Year

1986

2000

Lead

Lead-acid batterie

Consumer electronics

213 652

138 000

59 000

281 887

182 000

85 000

Mercury

Household batteries

Electric lighting

709

621

173

Cadmium

Rechargeable batteries

Plastics

1788

930

502

2684

2035

380

CONCLUSION:

Growth of non ferrous metal industry in India is very important for economic process but its impact on environment is very bad. So proper management of non ferrous metal for environmental purpose is very important and Govt. is trying to manage these by setting several regulatory authority.

ACKNOLODGEMENT:

Author paid a gratitude towards the pollution control board of Korba and Dr, B.K. Stapak P.D.(OPJIT) and DR. A.K. Srivastava (HOD Metallurgy) and all the faculty of OPJIT for their valuable support. Author wants to thank his parents for their support and his friends for encouragement during paper writing.

REFERENCES:-

1. Growth of nonferrous metal in india and its impact on environment by –‘R N Parbat (iim metal news june-2010)

2. Growth of nonferrous metal in india and its impact on environment by –‘R N Parbat (iim metal news june-2010)

3. Growth of nonferrous metal in india and its impact on environment by –‘R N Parbat (iim metal news june-2010)

4. Growth of nonferrous metal in India and its impact on environment by –‘R N Parbat (iim metal news june-2010)

5. Growth of nonferrous metal in India and its impact on environment by –‘R N Parbat (iim metal news june-2010)

6. Growth of nonferrous metal in India and its impact on environment by –‘R N Parbat (iim metal news june-2010)

7. Heavy metal toxicity by environment illness report.

8. Heavy metal toxicity by environment illness report.

9. Understanding environmental pollution by Marquita k Hill metallic pollution page – 361 (2^nd edition )

Received on 22.09.2011 Accepted on 28.10.2011

Research J. Engineering and Tech. 2(4): Oct. - Dec. 2011 page 242-244