Question

conservation and recycling of metals

Answer 1

Metals are essential, versatile and can be used in a number of ways. Metals can be used for industrial purposes such as manufacture of trucks, cars, airplanes, ships, and railways. They can also be used to manufacture domestic items such as cutlery, crockery and even in packaging. The good thing about metal recycling is that, metal can be recycled over and over without altering its properties. The most common recyclable metals include aluminum and steel. The other metals for example silver, copper, brass and gold are so valuable that they are rarely thrown away to be collected for recycling. Therefore, they do not create a waste disposal crisis or problem.



The Metal Recycling Process

The metal recycling process is similar to the usual recycling process. The metals are first sorted on the basis or their properties. It is however important to have the basic understanding or knowledge about metals. This will help in recycling them and keeping a green environment. The metal recycling process follows the following steps.

1. Collection

This is the first and most important step in metal recycling. It simply involves collecting all materials that are made of metals. This process should be organized in such a way that there should be containers specifically designed to collect metals. Some people and business persons have established scrap yards whereby people are encouraged to collect different metals, take them there and be paid for what they have collected. Different metals cost differently at the yards. The scrap metal yards are used as collecting centres for the metals.

2. Sorting

Once the metals have been collected, the next important step is to sort the metals. This involves separating what can be recycled form what is non-recyclable. It is essential to point out that the quality of metal recycled is very important. A high quality recycled product or item can only be created if the original materials used in the recycling process are of good quality. This therefore, calls for strict quality checkup during the sorting process.

3. Processing

After sorting, the next step is to compact or squeeze the metal. All the recycle materials are squeezed and squashed using machines so that they do not occupy so much space in the conveyor belts.

4. Shredding

After the crushing and breaking of the metal, the shredding process starts. The metals are broken down into tiny pieces or sheets to allow further processing. The small pieces have large surface to volume ratio that can be melted using less energy as compared to when they are in large pieces of metal. Normally, steel is changed into steel blocks while on the other hand aluminum is converted into sheets.

5. Melting and Purification

Melting of the scrap metal takes place in a large furnace. Each metal is taken to a furnace that is specifically designed to melt that particular metal based on its specific properties. The melting process uses a considerable amount of energy. However, the energy required for melting recycled metal is less compared to energy required to make metal from its raw material. The furnace is heated to appropriate degrees capable of melting the particular metal. Melting can take minutes or hours depending on how big the furnace is, the volume of metal placed in the furnace and the heat degree of the furnace.

6. Purification

After the melting process is complete, the next step is the purification process. Metals are purified using different methods. Purification of metals is done to ensure that the final product is free of impurities and that it is of high quality. Electrolysis is one of the methods of purifying some metals. Other metals are simply passed under powerful magnetic systems that separate metals from other recyclables. Today there are different purification methods depending on the type of metal.

7. Melting and Solidifying of the Metal

After the purification process, the molten metal is then carried by the conveyor belt to a cooling chamber