Version 1
: Received: 23 August 2019 / Approved: 25 August 2019 / Online: 25 August 2019 (15:15:47 CEST)
How to cite:
Zeng, X.; Ali, S.; Tian, J.; Li, J. Anthropogenic Mineral Supply through a Circular Economy Approach Has Potential to Meet Chinese Resource Consumption. Preprints2019, 2019080251. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201908.0251.v1
Zeng, X.; Ali, S.; Tian, J.; Li, J. Anthropogenic Mineral Supply through a Circular Economy Approach Has Potential to Meet Chinese Resource Consumption. Preprints 2019, 2019080251. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201908.0251.v1
Zeng, X.; Ali, S.; Tian, J.; Li, J. Anthropogenic Mineral Supply through a Circular Economy Approach Has Potential to Meet Chinese Resource Consumption. Preprints2019, 2019080251. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201908.0251.v1
APA Style
Zeng, X., Ali, S., Tian, J., & Li, J. (2019). Anthropogenic Mineral Supply through a Circular Economy Approach Has Potential to Meet Chinese Resource Consumption. Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201908.0251.v1
Chicago/Turabian Style
Zeng, X., Jinping Tian and Jinhui Li. 2019 "Anthropogenic Mineral Supply through a Circular Economy Approach Has Potential to Meet Chinese Resource Consumption" Preprints. https://doi.org/10.20944/preprints201908.0251.v1
Abstract
An increasingly large quantity of primary mineral resource is being converted into manufactured products and destined for solid waste disposal. This material can be reclassified as “anthropogenic mineral reserves” and be a potential source of metals for a range of manufacturing uses. China is implementing a range of policy interventions which can lead to such a classification that will raise the profile of recycling programs as a means of metal supply. China is not only a major producer of consumer products and importer of secondary metals, but also has a major urban infrastructure footprint. Here we consider three product groups, 30 products, and imports, and map the recycling potential of anthropogenic mineral and 23 types of the capsulated materials by targeting their evolution from 2010 to 2050. Total weight of anthropogenic mineral on average in China reached 39 Mt in 2010, but it will double in 2022 and quadruple in 2045. Stocks of precious metals and rare earths will increase faster than most base materials. The total economic potential in yearly-generated anthropogenic mineral is anticipated to grow markedly from 100 billion US$ in 2020 to 400 billion US$ in 2050. Anthropogenic mineral of around 20 materials will be able to meet projected consumption of three product groups by 2050, due to high availability of recycled content and gradual saturation of consumption. Durability of material usage and the concomitant stock of the anthropogenic mineral remain major challenges in determining the viability of this supply in the second half of the coming century.
Environmental and Earth Sciences, Environmental Science
Copyright:
This is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
