Greenhouse Gaseous
Carbon dioxide is one of the major problematic greenhouse gases that causes the global
warming phenomenon. Most of the CO2 gases produced from combustion, which means
burning things to convert the energy into thermal or mechanical energy.
The carbon dioxide emission diagram is calculated around 9.7 metric tons of carbon dioxide
emitted per metric ton of primary aluminum ingot produced. The method of the electrolysis
process produced the highest amount of the CO2 compare to others method. It produced
about 7.5 metric tons of carbon dioxide per ton of primary aluminum ingot. Also, the process of
alumina production also produced a very high amount of CO2, about 2 metric tons of carbon
dioxide per ton of primary aluminum ingot. On the other hand, the emissions cause by the
process of bauxite mining and casting are almost negligible since the amounts of the CO2
produced are relatively very low.
Impact: Global warming
When the sun emits its radiation energy to the earth, a part of the ultraviolet light is blocked by
the ozone and reflected back to space. Some of the visible light passes thought the ozone and
hit the ground of the Earth’s surface. Then, partly of the visible light, warm the surface of the
earth and some of them are reflected direct to the space. However, during the process, some of
the reflected light energy is absorbed by the greenhouse gases such as CO2. This process keeps
the Earth’s surface warm. But, human activities produce a large amount of extra greenhouse
gases, therefore more reflection light energy is being absorbed. For that reason, the
temperature of the Earth increases.
Acidification Potential
Acidification potential is an aggregate measure of the emissions that can cause acidifying
effects to the environment such as SO2 and NOx.
SO2 is known as acidifying emissions because Sulfur dioxide dissolves easily in water and can be
carried very far by the wind and causes the effects of acidifying to the rain.
The sulfur dioxide emission diagram is calculated around 50 kilograms of sulfur dioxide emitted
per metric ton of primary aluminum ingot produced. Similarly, the method of the electrolysis
process produced the highest amount of the SO2 compare to others method. It produced about
40 kilograms of sulfur dioxide per ton of primary aluminum ingot. Also, the process of alumina
production also produced a huge amount of SO2, 10 kilograms of sulfur dioxide per ton of
primary aluminum ingot. On the other hand, the emissions cause by the process of bauxite
mining and casting are almost negligible since the amounts of the SO2 produced are relatively
very low.
Impact: Acid rain
The emission of SO2 and NOx will cause lots of the damage to the ecosystems. When the acidic
gases carried by the wind and meet the cloud, the SO2 will chemically react with the water in
the cloud and produced sulfuric acid. Also, the NOx will chemically react with the water and
produced nitric acid. When this rain falls with those acidic, it will kill plants and fishes and
acidifying lakes and soils. Not only that, acid rain will cause damage to the metals and stones by
corroded or disintegrated.
Acid rain effects on forests and on fishes
Eutrophication Potential
The eutrophication potential is an aggregate measure of emissions that cause atrophying
effects to the Environment such as Phosphate.
The phosphate emission diagram is calculated around 2.4 kilograms of phosphate emitted per
metric ton of primary aluminum ingot produced. Similarly, the method of the electrolysis
process produced the highest amount of the PO4 compare to others method. It produced about
1.8 kilograms of phosphate per ton of primary aluminum ingot. Also, the process of alumina
production also produced a huge amount of PO4, 0.4 kilograms of phosphate per ton of primary
aluminum ingot. Furthermore, bauxite mining produced a small amount of the phosphate,
which is about 0.2kg per metric ton of primary aluminum ingot produced. On the other hand,
the emissions cause by the process casting is almost negligible since the amounts of the
phosphate produced are relatively very low.
Impact: Over enrichment of nutrients
When the waste water with water containing a large amount of phosphate inject into the lake,
it will cause overgrowth algae blooms, aquatic plants and excessive bacteria due to the
enrichment of nutrients. However, when the algae covers the surface of the water, it will
reduce the sunlight reaching the lower depths. This leads a significant problem because the
photosynthesis process will reduce in the water and this leads to the lack of oxygen.
Consequently, the fishes will also die and anaerobic decomposition
Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential
Under the influence of sunlight, the emissions of ozone-precursors contributing to low-level
smog is measured by the Photochemical Ozone Creation Potential
The ethene emission diagram is calculated around 3 kilograms of ethene emitted per metric ton
of primary aluminum ingot produced. Similarly, the method of the electrolysis process
produced the highest amount of the ethene compare to others process. It produced about 2.4
kilograms of ethene per ton of primary aluminum ingot. Also, the process of alumina
production also produced a huge amount of ethene, 0.5 kilograms of ethene per ton of primary
aluminum ingot. The emissions cause by the process of bauxite mining and casting are almost
negligible since the amounts of the ethene produced are relatively very low.
Impact: Ozone formation
The emission of Ethene will indirectly produce the O3 which calls ground level ozone. The
ground level ozone is produced by NO2 and O2. When the sunlight causes nitrogen dioxide to
separate into nitric oxide and oxygen, the oxygen atom will react with the O2 to create O3. And
the nitric oxide will react with hydrocarbon and oxygen, this reaction will recreate NO2 and it
leads to a cycle of ozone production. This Ground level ozone is known as one of the toxic gases
and damaging trace gas. Basically, it will cause damage to anything touched such as vegetation
and material.