LCA study for metallic nickel produced by pyrometallurgy processes

The authors carried out the life cycle assessment (LCA) for metallic nickel produced by pyrometallurgy processes based on the investigations. The production processes of nickel, which use nickel-copper coexistence ore as the raw material, are a complex production system and deal with nickel, copper and other metals production; therefore, the LCA study is rather complicated. The environmental impacts are distributed to each product, according to the mass flow combined with the energy consumption, and a LCA case study for the complex metallurgical processes is offered. The assessment indicates that the processes, which cause the largest energy consumption and waste gases emission, are mining, ore preparation and electrolysis processes. The processes, which cause the largest amount of waste water and solid waste, are mining process. The improving ways of them are also discussed.