How To Recycle CopperThe process of recycling scrap copper starts when the material is purchased or obtained from scrap dealers, brokers or processors. Scrap copper #1 are made up of unalloyed, clean, Uncoated copper tubing, clean pipe, bus bars, punchings, clippings and solids, while scrap copper 2 is similar to 1 butmay be coated or plated.

The Recycling Process

Prior to recycling copper scrap, the material is thoroughly inspected, analysed chemically and graded. Loose scrap is baled and kept in storage until needed while #1 scrap copper is melted directly, in some instances purified at higher levels than normal and molted. Chemical analysis is used to determine the purity level, after which molten copper is deoxidised and cast as an ingot, cake, billet and further processed.

Number 2 scrap copper is refined electrolytically until the required purity level is reached. However, scrap copper is melted and refined in fire, after which it is cast into anodes. The anodes represent the raw material used for producing cathode, and are refined electrolytically and immersed in sulphuric acid and subjected to more processing.

Copper alloys are also recycled, and the process begins with collection, segregation and cleaning, making it easy to identify alloy elements and their purity levels. Once the materials have been analysed, they are melted in batches and compounded so the desired outcome is attained.

Copper Use in Cars

The amount of copper used in a typical family car in the UK is a kilometre long, whereas in the past, it was only 45 metres. The increase has been attributed to the integration of electronically powered devices and electronics in cars, as entertainment systems, air bags, ABS, electric windows,lights and motor all use copper wiring.

Nearly 2 million vehicles are scrapped every year in the UK, which represents a lot of potential waste. It’s for this reason why the European ELV was enforced beginning 2007 in an attempt to reduce the waste that scrapping generates. To dispose of copper and other materials, sites that deal expressly with ELV (end of life vehicles) are now available.

Before copper from old cars can be recycled, the vehicle has to be dismantled properly. A typical ELV site in the UK can handle up to 180 cars per hour, and is divided into several stages. The first is dismantling, whereby all valuable components are removed. Second, the vehicle is De-polluted, with all the fluids, oil, wheels, tyres and battery removed.

The third stage is the destruction of the vehicle by giant hammers that move at 500 rpm, followed by vacuum treatment, where the non-metallic parts are sent to a landfill.

The final step is density separation of copper, which can then be recycled. While the process takes time, it is the most satisfactory means of retrieving copper from cars. While wiring harnesses may be removed by hand, it will take too much time and is expensive. And using the current recovery techniques, up to 80% of the copper is recoverable and can be recycled.