IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/bla/inecol/v26y2022i2p592-608.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Evolution of the anthropogenic chromium cycle in China

Author

Listed:
  • Ziyan Gao
  • Yong Geng
  • Xianlai Zeng
  • Xu Tian
  • Tianli Yao
  • Xiaoqian Song
  • Chang Su

Abstract

Chromium (Cr) is a critical metal due to its essential economic importance and potential supply risk in contemporary society. Recycling of secondary chromium metals is a desirable sustainable strategy in responding to the soaring demand, but existing literatures have limitations in capturing the anthropogenic chromium cycle and thus fail to address the availability of such secondary resources. Under such a circumstance, this study aims to uncover China's chromium dynamic flows and stocks for the period of 2000–2019. The results show that China's chromium demand increased more than tenfold from 2000 to 2019 due to the rapid development of the stainless‐steel industry. The net Cr import to apparent Cr consumption (includes old scrap recycling) reached 94% in 2019, in which 69% of purchased virgin materials were imported from the African region (e.g., South Africa). The generation of end‐of‐life flows has been accelerating since 2000 and reached approximately 1,400 Gg in 2019, indicating more available secondary Cr resource and great recycling potential. However, the end‐of life recycling ratio (EOL‐RR) fluctuated during 2011–2015 and decreased to about 17% (uncertainty ranging from 7% to 24%) in 2019. Such findings reflect the unstable demand for old scrap and call for an integrated management of both primary and secondary chromium resources, with a special focus on accurate planning for scrap utilization. Possible solutions include the reengineering of sorting and processing for stainless‐steel scrap, the development of secondary resource markets, economic incentives for secondary resources, and the increased imports of secondary stainless‐steel materials.

Suggested Citation

  • Ziyan Gao & Yong Geng & Xianlai Zeng & Xu Tian & Tianli Yao & Xiaoqian Song & Chang Su, 2022. "Evolution of the anthropogenic chromium cycle in China," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(2), pages 592-608, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:26:y:2022:i:2:p:592-608
    DOI: 10.1111/jiec.13207
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://doi.org/10.1111/jiec.13207
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1111/jiec.13207?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xianlai Zeng & Saleem H. Ali & Jinping Tian & Jinhui Li, 2020. "Mapping anthropogenic mineral generation in China and its implications for a circular economy," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 11(1), pages 1-9, December.
    2. Saleem H. Ali & Damien Giurco & Nicholas Arndt & Edmund Nickless & Graham Brown & Alecos Demetriades & Ray Durrheim & Maria Amélia Enriquez & Judith Kinnaird & Anna Littleboy & Lawrence D. Meinert & R, 2017. "Mineral supply for sustainable development requires resource governance," Nature, Nature, vol. 543(7645), pages 367-372, March.
    3. David Laner & Helmut Rechberger & Thomas Astrup, 2014. "Systematic Evaluation of Uncertainty in Material Flow Analysis," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 18(6), pages 859-870, December.
    4. Yong Geng & Joseph Sarkis & Raimund Bleischwitz, 2019. "How to globalize the circular economy," Nature, Nature, vol. 565(7738), pages 153-155, January.
    5. Johnson, Jeremiah & Reck, B.K. & Wang, T. & Graedel, T.E., 2008. "The energy benefit of stainless steel recycling," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(1), pages 181-192, January.
    6. Di Dong & Arnold Tukker & Ester Van der Voet, 2019. "Modeling copper demand in China up to 2050: A business‐as‐usual scenario based on dynamic stock and flow analysis," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(6), pages 1363-1380, December.
    7. Kyaw Nyunt Maung & Cherry Myo Lwin & Seiji Hashimoto, 2019. "Assessment of secondary zinc reserves of nations," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 23(5), pages 1109-1120, October.
    8. Saleem H. Ali & Damien Giurco & Nicholas Arndt & Edmund Nickless & Graham Brown & Alecos Demetriades & Ray Durrheim & Maria Amélia Enriquez & Judith Kinnaird & Anna Littleboy & Lawrence D. Meinert & R, 2017. "Correction: Corrigendum: Mineral supply for sustainable development requires resource governance," Nature, Nature, vol. 547(7662), pages 246-246, July.
    9. T. E. Graedel & Julian Allwood & Jean‐Pierre Birat & Matthias Buchert & Christian Hagelüken & Barbara K. Reck & Scott F. Sibley & Guido Sonnemann, 2011. "What Do We Know About Metal Recycling Rates?," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 15(3), pages 355-366, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Chris Kennedy & Richard Wood, 2023. "Winners of the 2022 Graedel Prizes: The Journal of Industrial Ecology Best Paper Prizes," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 27(6), pages 1426-1428, December.
    2. Liu, Sijie & Geng, Yong & Gao, Ziyan & Li, Jinze & Xiao, Shijiang, 2023. "Uncovering the key features of gold flows and stocks in China," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 82(C).
    3. Pothen, Frank & Hundt, Carolin, 2024. "European post-consumer steel scrap in 2050: A review of estimates and modeling assumptions," Jena Contributions to Economic Research Jahrgang 2024/1, Ernst-Abbe-Hochschule Jena – University of Applied Sciences, Department of Business Administration.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Le Boulzec, Hugo & Delannoy, Louis & Andrieu, Baptiste & Verzier, François & Vidal, Olivier & Mathy, Sandrine, 2022. "Dynamic modeling of global fossil fuel infrastructure and materials needs: Overcoming a lack of available data," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 326(C).
    2. Tomer Fishman & Rupert J. Myers & Orlando Rios & T.E. Graedel, 2018. "Implications of Emerging Vehicle Technologies on Rare Earth Supply and Demand in the United States," Resources, MDPI, vol. 7(1), pages 1-15, January.
    3. Eheliyagoda, Disna & Li, Jinhui & Geng, Yong & Zeng, Xianlai, 2022. "The role of China's aluminum recycling on sustainable resource and emission pathways," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C).
    4. Marc Schmid, 2021. "The Revised German Raw Materials Strategy in the Light of Global Political and Market Developments," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 38(1), pages 49-75, January.
    5. Lucia Mancini & Philip Nuss, 2020. "Responsible Materials Management for a Resource-Efficient and Low-Carbon Society," Resources, MDPI, vol. 9(6), pages 1-14, June.
    6. Endl, Andreas & Tost, Michael & Hitch, Michael & Moser, Peter & Feiel, Susanne, 2021. "Europe's mining innovation trends and their contribution to the sustainable development goals: Blind spots and strong points," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    7. Rivera, Nilza & Guzmán, Juan Ignacio & Jara, José Joaquín & Lagos, Gustavo, 2021. "Evaluation of econometric models of secondary refined copper supply," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 73(C).
    8. Song, Huiling & Wang, Chang & Lei, Xiaojie & Zhang, Hongwei, 2022. "Dynamic dependence between main-byproduct metals and the role of clean energy market," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    9. Liang, Yanan & Kleijn, René & Tukker, Arnold & van der Voet, Ester, 2022. "Material requirements for low-carbon energy technologies: A quantitative review," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    10. Guzmán, Juan Ignacio & Karpunina, Alina & Araya, Constanza & Faúndez, Patricio & Bocchetto, Marcela & Camacho, Rodolfo & Desormeaux, Daniela & Galaz, Juanita & Garcés, Ingrid & Kracht, Willy & Lagos, , 2023. "Chile: On the road to global sustainable mining," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 83(C).
    11. Dino, Giovanna Antonella & Cavallo, Alessandro & Faraudello, Alessandra & Piercarlo, Rossi & Mancini, Susanna, 2021. "Raw materials supply: Kaolin and quartz from ore deposits and recycling activities. The example of the Monte Bracco area (Piedmont, Northern Italy)," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 74(C).
    12. János Szanyi & Ladislaus Rybach & Hawkar A. Abdulhaq, 2023. "Geothermal Energy and Its Potential for Critical Metal Extraction—A Review," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(20), pages 1-28, October.
    13. Zhong, Qiumeng & Zhang, Zhihe & Wang, Heming & Zhang, Xu & Wang, Yao & Wang, Peng & Ma, Fengmei & Yue, Qiang & Du, Tao & Chen, Wei-Qiang & Liang, Sai, 2023. "Incorporating scarcity into footprints reveals diverse supply chain hotspots for global fossil fuel management," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 349(C).
    14. Xaysackda Vilaysouk & Savath Saypadith & Seiji Hashimoto, 2022. "Semisupervised machine learning classification framework for material intensity parameters of residential buildings," Journal of Industrial Ecology, Yale University, vol. 26(1), pages 72-87, February.
    15. Alessandro Cavallo & Giovanna Antonella Dino, 2022. "Extractive Waste as a Resource: Quartz, Feldspars, and Rare Earth Elements from Gneiss Quarries of the Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province (Piedmont, Northern Italy)," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-15, April.
    16. Nechifor, Victor & Calzadilla, Alvaro & Bleischwitz, Raimund & Winning, Matthew & Tian, Xu & Usubiaga, Arkaitz, 2020. "Steel in a circular economy: Global implications of a green shift in China," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 127(C).
    17. Dou Shiquan & Xu Deyi, 2023. "The security of critical mineral supply chains," Mineral Economics, Springer;Raw Materials Group (RMG);Luleå University of Technology, vol. 36(3), pages 401-412, September.
    18. Margarita N. Ignatyeva & Vera V. Yurak & Alexey V. Dushin & Irina G. Polyanskaya, 2021. "Assessing challenges and threats for balanced subsoil use," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(12), pages 17904-17922, December.
    19. Elisabeth Christen & Klaus S. Friesenbichler & Alexander Hudetz & Claudia Kettner-Marx & Ina Meyer & Franz Sinabell, 2021. "Außenhandel und nachhaltige Entwicklung in Österreich. Befunde auf der Grundlage von vorliegenden Quellen," WIFO Studies, WIFO, number 69290, April.
    20. Steven B. Young & Shannon Fernandes & Michael O. Wood, 2019. "Jumping the Chain: How Downstream Manufacturers Engage with Deep Suppliers of Conflict Minerals," Resources, MDPI, vol. 8(1), pages 1-24, January.

    More about this item

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:bla:inecol:v:26:y:2022:i:2:p:592-608. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Wiley Content Delivery (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.blackwellpublishing.com/journal.asp?ref=1088-1980 .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.