Metal Watch

PRODUCING COPPER WITH ELECTRICITY

Electrowinning, a technique that uses electricity to recover copper from solutions, will be put to work at a plant in Claypool, Ariz. The U.S. Bureau of Mines and an industry consortium are testing the procedure using an alternative anode reaction process that promises to cut energy costs and solve a serious on-the-job safety problem.

Electrowinning provides about one-third of the copper produced in the U.S. from new ore, and its use has grown steadily since the 1980s because it allows companies to process lower-grade material. The technique, however, is energy intensive and exposes workers to a fine sulfuric acid mist. The new technique cuts energy costs in half and eliminates the mist problem.

STEEL SHIPMENTS UP FOR FIRST FOUR MONTHS

Shipments of steel mill products by mills in the United States were up 7 percent for the first four months of 1995, but were down for the month of April by 12.9 percent from the previous month, according to the American Iron and Steel Institute, Washington.

The U.S. steel industry shipped 7.79 million net tons of steel in April 1995, compared to 8.95 the previous month. April’s shipments fell slightly, down 0.2 percent, from the 7.81 million net tons shipped in the same month of 1994.

ALUMINUM SCRAP RECYCLING GUIDELINES NOW HERE

Three recycling guidelines are being published by The Aluminum Association, Washington. The guidelines were developed to inform aluminum industry customers and users of significant issues affecting the recyclability of aluminum. Those guides are:

l Automotive Recycling Guidelines – provides information on how to achieve optimal recovery and recyclability of automotive aluminum scrap, addresses the control of contaminants and identifies the chemical composition of aluminum auto parts;

l Contamination, Packaging and Commingling Guidelines – offers steps to assure scrap quality and information on obtaining maximum revenue from recycled scrap, including used aluminum beverage cans, curbside/household collection programs, household aluminum products, and products requiring special handling; and

l By-Products of Aluminum Melting Processes Guidelines and Definitions – describes by-products common to all aluminum melting operations and defines recommended practices for handling, storage and transportation of by-products.

To order any of these guidelines call (301) 645-0756. The cost for each guideline is $10 for members, and $20 for non-members.

ALUMINUM PRODUCTION LAGGING 1994 NUMBERS

The United States annual rate of primary aluminum production is slightly lagging levels posted at the same time last year. For the six months of 1995, actual production was 1.648 million metric tons, compared to 1.654 for the first half of 1994.

Last year, 3.298 million metric tons of primary aluminum were produced in the U.S.

NEW SCRAP STEEL SPEC IN EUROPE