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Water Footprint Inventory Construction of Cathode Copper Products in a Chinese Eco-Industry

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Listed:
  • Long Zhang

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China)

  • Xiaoyu Luan

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China)

  • Xinyi Chen

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China)

  • Shuhao Zhang

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China)

  • Yukun Liang

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China)

  • Zhaojie Cui

    (School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Shandong University, Qingdao 266237, China)

Abstract

Copper is an important strategic resource for the national economy and social security of China. Water use is a significant component of copper production. However, water shortages and water pollution are two global crises in water resource management. In this study, a copper production industry in China was studied from the perspective of water footprint (WF) and ecological industry (eco-industry). A WF inventory was built by accounting for the entire production and supply chain process, including mining, ore dressing, transportation, smelting, and electrolysis. An index system comprising target, criterion, and variable layers was established to evaluate the sustainable utilization of water resources. It was observed that the studied industry showed a good sustainability for water resource utilization. Only 65.67 tons of freshwater per ton of product was inputted in the entire process due to virtual water (VW) and the use of reclaimed water. However, the WF of each ton of cathode copper product was 162.58 t, and the imported VW of the eco-industry accounted for 92.45%. Increasing the VW import and reducing the VW export can alleviate water shortages. A detailed WF analysis showed that the effects of evaporation and different types of losses on the blue WF (BWF) were significant and should be considered. Upstream water consumption of electricity and other energy sources were also observed to be an important part of the BWF. Regardless of whether freshwater or recycled water was used, the WF can be reduced only by effectively reducing water consumption.

Suggested Citation

  • Long Zhang & Xiaoyu Luan & Xinyi Chen & Shuhao Zhang & Yukun Liang & Zhaojie Cui, 2022. "Water Footprint Inventory Construction of Cathode Copper Products in a Chinese Eco-Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-15, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:14:y:2022:i:10:p:5962-:d:815570
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Arjen Y. Hoekstra, 2017. "Water Footprint Assessment: Evolvement of a New Research Field," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 31(10), pages 3061-3081, August.
    2. Chapagain, A.K. & Hoekstra, A.Y. & Savenije, H.H.G. & Gautam, R., 2006. "The water footprint of cotton consumption: An assessment of the impact of worldwide consumption of cotton products on the water resources in the cotton producing countries," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 60(1), pages 186-203, November.
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    Cited by:

    1. Chui-Yu Chiu & William Tang, 2022. "Measuring the Operational Efficiency and the Water Resources Management Efficiency for Industrial Parks: Empirical Study of Industrial Parks in Taiwan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(21), pages 1-22, October.

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