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2.C.6 - Zinc Production
Short description
Within this NFR subcategory, SO2, PM2.5, PM10, TSP, As, Cd, Hg, Pb, Zn, PCDD/F, and PCB emissions from the production of zinc are reported.
| Category Code | Method | AD | EF |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2.C.6 | T2 | AS | D,CS |
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| NOx | NMVOC | SO2 | NH3 | PM2.5 | PM10 | TSP | BC | CO | Pb | Cd | Hg | As | Cu | Cr | Ni | Se | Zn | PCDD/F | PAHs | HCB | PCBs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NA | NA | -/- | NA | -/- | -/- | -/- | NE | NA | -/- | -/- | -/- | -/- | NA | NA | NA | NE | L/- | -/- | NA | NA | L/T |
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Method
Activity data
The yearly production figures were taken from the annual statistical report of the German association for non-ferrous metals 1). After zinc production droped sharply due to reduced production outputs or even production stops in 2023, production output recovered partly in 2024. However, the figures for 2023 and 2024 had to be classified as confidential and therefore cannot be published here.
Table 1: Annual total zinc production (primary + secondary), in [kt]
| 1990 | 1995 | 2000 | 2005 | 2010 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 390 | 356 | 357 | 335 | 165 | 171 | 169 | 176 | 177 | 177 | 165 | 168 | 135 | C | C |
Emission factors
The emission factor for SOx is a tier1 default value according to the EMEP/EEA air pollutant emission inventory guidebook 2023 2) and is supposed to be constant. All other emission factors are tier2 values with a decreasing trend and determined in research projects. The EF for the heavy metals (HM) are taken from a research project 3).
Table 2: emission factors applied for primary and secondary zinc production
| EF (primary) | EF (secondary) | Unit | |
|---|---|---|---|
| SO2 | 1.35 | kg/t | |
| PM2.5 | 38.5 | g/t | |
| PM10 | 61.3 | g/t | |
| TSP | 100 | g/t | |
| As | 123.882 | 30 | mg/t |
| Cd | 1085 | 230 | mg/t |
| Hg | 500 | 1.5 | mg/t |
| Pb | 19.605 | 0.95 | g/t |
| Zn | 51.968 | 9 | g/t |
| PCB | 1 | mg/t | |
| PCDD/F | 0.15 | µg/t | |
Uncertainties
The uncertainties for the production amounts are 5% and for the emission factors not more than 300%. Only for dioxines the upper bond uncertainty is about 900%.
Recalculations
With activity data and emission factors remaining unrevised, no recalculations were carried out compared to the previous submission.
Planned improvements
At the moment, no category-specific improvements are planned.