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Module 3 of 9 · A2 · Production routes and system boundaries

3.Route 2: secondary melting (recycling)

Episode A2-03 · Secondary melting · 2:18

Scrap is sorted, pre-treated (de-coating, de-oiling), melted in rotary, reverberatory or induction furnaces, alloyed and cast. Typical fuels are natural gas, LPG or fuel oil.

Inside the boundary:

  • CO2 from fuels for drying, pre-heating, melting and casting;
  • CO2 from scrap pre-treatment and burning off the coatings and oils;
  • CO2 from skimmings treatment, slag recovery and flue gas treatment.

Materials: scrap (pre- or post-consumer) has zero embedded emissions. Bought-in unwrought aluminium you add is a precursor. No PFCs.

WATCH OUT A plant that only counts its natural gas will under-report. Burning paint and oil off scrap is inside the boundary.

Sources: MA Annex I 3.17.2.2 p.26; G5e §2.2.3.2 p.14-15.