Limits of Design for Recycling and “Sustainability”: A Review

摘要: Metals and materials play a pivotal role in society as their properties impart unique functionality to engineered structures consumer products. are theoretically infinitely recyclable; however, the design of product complicate recycling due ever more complex producing un-liberated low grade recyclates. Metallurgical smelting ingenuity, good technology intelligent use thermodynamics transfer processes gets metallurgists recyclers far way down path creating high rates from large range primary concentrates However, 2nd Law Thermodynamics teaches us practical limits terms entropy creation, which is determined by complexity recyclates hence economics processing/technology metal/energy recovery. The usual simple accounting type tools do not rise challenge. Therefore, key issue for creation “sustainable systems” minimization waste (or other words achieve rates) optimal industrial ecological systems with optimally linked Best Available Techniques (BAT). This must maximize recovery ores within boundaries behaviour, design/functionality, thermodynamics, legislation, economics. Examples will show how recyclate quality/grade predicted models affects while also reviewing various published methodologies. paper shows that simulation prerequisite designing “sustainable” these can predict grade/quality/losses/toxicity streams, link realization company ideals mission statements this regard. In words, dematerialize requires detail input engineers, predictive economic based approaches engineer sustainable future.