meta data for this page
2.C.7.a - Copper Production
Short description
Within this NFR subcategory, SO2, PM2.5, PM10, TSP, PCDD/F, HCB, As, Cd, Cu, Hg, and Pb emissions from the production of copper are reported.
| Category Code | Method | AD | EF |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.C.7.a | T2 | AS | D, CS |
|
|
|||
| NOx | NMVOC | SO2 | NH3 | PM2.5 | PM10 | TSP | BC | CO | Pb | Cd | Hg | As | Cr | Cu | Ni | Se | Zn | PCDD/F | PAHs | HCB |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA | NA | -/- | NA | -/- | -/- | -/- | NE | NA | -/- | L/T | -/- | L/- | NA | -/- | NE | NE | -/- | -/- | NA | L/- |
|
|
||||||||||||||||||||
Method
Activity data
The annual production figures were taken from the annual statistical report of the German association for non-ferrous metals (WirtschaftsVereinigung Metalle) 1) until 2020. Since 2021 the production figures for primary copper have been directly taken from the producer whereas for secondary copper no updating was possible. In 2023 the primary and secondary copper production amounted to 559.7 kt.
Emission factors
The emission factors are either default values according to the EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook 2023 2) or determined in research projects 3), 4) , 5) or from companies environmental reports 6). Nickel emissions in secondary copper production are not reported.
Table 1: Tier 1 emission factors applied for entire time series (primary and secondary copper production)
| EF | Unit | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| HCB | 1 | mg/t | German association for non-ferrous metals (WirtschaftsVereinigung Metalle) 7) |
| PCDD/F | 2.9 | µg/t | Rentz et al. 2008 8) |
Table 2: Emission factors applied for primary copper production
| EF | Unit | Source | |
|---|---|---|---|
| TSP | 0.09 | kg/t | Aurubis, 2023 9) |
| PM10 | 0.0765 | kg/t | calculated from Aurubis, 2023 |
| PM2.5 | 0.063 | kg/t | calculated from Aurubis, 2023 |
| SO2 | 3.6 | kg/t | Aurubis, 2023 |
| As | 0.8 | g/t | Aurubis, 2023 |
| Cd | 15 | g/t | EMEP/EEA GB 2023 10) |
| Cu | 13.8 | g/t | Aurubis, 2023 |
| Hg | 0.031 | g/t | EMEP/EEA GB 2023 |
| Pb | 3.1 | g/t | Aurubis, 2023 |
Table 3: Emission factors applied for secondary copper production
Uncertainties
The uncertainties for the production amounts are 7% and for the emission factors not more than 50% for primary and 200% for secondary copper production.
Recalculations
With activity data and emission factors remaining unrevised, no recalculations were carried out compared to the prvious submission.
Planned improvements
At the moment, no category-specific improvements are planned.