Environmental impacts of brass melting: an Indian case study

Abstract Brass metal handicrafts are the traditional cultural heritage of Indian society. Its artisans are still using age-old technologies and coal for the melting of brass scrap. The present case study compares the environmental aspects associated with 1.0 t brass scrap melting using coal and light fuel oil. The effects of coal and light fuel oil on different climate impact categories are analyzed for production as well as for the use phase. In the production phase, the coal has a lower global warming potential (7.05 kg CO2-Equiv.), acidification potential (0.04 kg SO2-Equiv.), abiotic depletion potential-elements (2.87 E-7 kg Sb-Equiv.), and human toxicity potential (0.613 kg DCB-Equiv.) compared to light fuel oil. However, during the use phase, i.e., thermal energy production for melting (1.0 t brass scrap), the light fuel oil has a lower global warming potential (76.15 kg CO2-Equiv.), acidification potential (0.24 kg SO2-Equiv), eutrophication potential (0.045 kg phosphate-Equiv.), and minimum human toxicity potential (1.82 kg DCB-Equiv.). It appears evident that the overall phases need to be considered in order to make a well-balanced decision for sustainable development.