Copper circular economy

Challenges of the energy and digital transition

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.15.27181

Keywords:

energy transition, circular economy, recycling, secondary resources, copper

Abstract

Copper is one of the key metals required for the digital and energy transition and so its demand will increase in the coming years. However, primary extraction poses increasing environmental problems because of the progressive decline in the mineral concentration of copper deposits (ore grade). In this context, electronic waste is becoming a very promising source of secondary copper. However, this form of copper recovery presents a number of technological and chemical challenges, including the use of renewable energy, separation of plastics from other waste, and increasing process efficiency. Given the thermodynamic limitations of these processes, other non-technological factors are becoming very important in the transition.

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Author Biographies

Jorge Torrubia, Energaia

Graduate in Mechanical Engineering, with a master’s degree in Renewable Energies and Energy Efficiency. He is a researcher at Energaia, the Joint University of Aragón Research Institute for Energy and Resource Efficiency, in Spain

Alicia Valero, University of Zaragoza (Spain).

PhD in Chemical Engineering and full professor at the University of Zaragoza (Spain). She is the director of the Industrial Ecology Group at Energaia, the Joint University of Aragón Research Institute for Energy and Resource Efficiency, in Spain

References

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Published

2024-07-04

How to Cite

Torrubia, J., & Valero, A. (2024). Copper circular economy: Challenges of the energy and digital transition. Metode Science Studies Journal, (15). https://doi.org/10.7203/metode.15.27181
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Issue

No. 15: Volume 15 (Online first)

Section

Everything is chemistry: Challenges for a sustainable future

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