Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Vanadium metabolism investigation using substance flow and scenario analysis

  • Research Article
  • Published:
Frontiers of Environmental Science & Engineering Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Vanadium is a vital strategic resource, and vanadium metabolism is an important part of the national socio-economic system of China. This study conducts accounting and scenario analysis on the life cycle of vanadium metabolism in China. Based on the characteristics of vanadium life cycle and substance flow analysis (SFA) framework, we present a quantitative evaluation of a static anthropogenic vanadium life cycle for the year 2010. Results show that anthropogenic vanadium consumption, stocks, and new domestic scrap are at 98.2, 21.2, and 4.1 kt, respectively; new scrap is usually discarded. The overall utilization ratio of vanadium is 32.2%. A large amount of vanadium is stockpiled into tailings, debris, slags, and other spent solids. A scenario analysis was conducted to analyze the future developmental trend of vanadium metabolism in China based on the SFA framework and the qualitative analysis of technology advancement and socio-economic development. The baseline year was set as 2010. Several indicators were proposed to simulate different scenarios from 2010 to 2030. The scenario analysis indicates that the next 20 years is a critical period for the vanadium industry in China. This paper discusses relevant policies that contribute to the improvement of sustainable vanadium utilization in China.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Gummow B. Vanadium: Environmental Pollution and Health Effects. Townsville: Elsevier, 2011, 628–636

    Google Scholar 

  2. China Market Research Report. Market Report on the Trade of China Vanadium Ores and Concentrates, 2010–2015. Shenzhen, 2010, 20–31. Available online at http://www.askci.com (accessed September 18, 2013) (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Ayres R U. Metals recycling: economic and environmental implications. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 1997, 21(3): 145–173

    Article  Google Scholar 

  4. Ichiro D, Yasunari M, Yoshihiro A. Substance flow analysis of chromium and nickel in the material flow of stainless steel in Japan. Resources, Conservation and Recycling. 2010, 54(11): 851–863

    Article  Google Scholar 

  5. Wang T, Müller D B, Graedel T E. Forging the anthropogenic iron cycle. Environmental Science & Technology, 2007, 41(14): 5120–5129

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Graedel T E, van Beers Dick, Bertram M, Fuse K, Gordon R B, Gritsinin A. The multilevel cycle of anthropogenic zinc. Journal of Industrial Ecology, 2005, 9(3): 67–90

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Graedel T E, van Beers D, Bertram M, Fuse K, Gordon R B, Gritsinin A, Kapur A, Klee R J, Lifset R J, Memon L, Rechberger H, Spatari S, Vexler D. Multilevel cycle of anthropogenic copper. Environmental Science & Technology, 2004, 38(4): 1242–1252

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  8. Johnson J, Jirikowic J, Bertram M, van Beers D, Gordon R B, Henderson K, Klee R J, Lanzano T, Lifset R, Oetjen L, Graedel T E. Contemporary anthropogenic silver cycle: a multilevel analysis. Environmental Science & Technology, 2005, 39(12): 4655–4665

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Johnson J, Schewel L, Graedel T E. The contemporary anthropogenic chromium cycle. Environmental Science & Technology, 2006, 40(22): 7060–7069

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Mao J S, Dong J, Graedel T E. The multilevel cycle of anthropogenic lead: I. Methodology. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2008, 52(8–9): 1058–1064

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Mao J S, Dong J, Graedel T E. The multilevel cycle of anthropogenic lead: II. Results and discussion. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2008, 52(8–9): 1050–1057

    Article  Google Scholar 

  12. Reck B K, Müller D B, Rostkowski K, Graedel T E. Anthropogenic nickel cycle: insights into use, trade, and recycling. Environmental Science & Technology, 2008, 42(9): 3394–3400

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Chen W Q, Shi L, Qian Y. Substance flow analysis of aluminium in mainland China for 2001, 2004 and 2007: Exploring its initial sources, eventual sinks and the pathways linking them. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2010, 54(9): 557–570

    Article  Google Scholar 

  14. Xu Y, Zhang T. A new approach to modeling waste in physical input-output analysis. Ecological Economic, 2009, 68(10): 2475–2478

    Article  Google Scholar 

  15. Yue Q, Wang H M, Lu Z W. Quantitative estimation of social stock for metals Al and Cu in China. Transactions of Nonferrous Metals Society of China, 2012, 22(7): 1744–1752

    Article  Google Scholar 

  16. Guo X Y, Zhong J Y, Song Y, Tian Q H. Substance flow analysis of zinc in China. Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2010, 54(3): 171–177

    Article  Google Scholar 

  17. Hilliard H E. The materials flow of vanadium in the United States. Washington, D C: Bureau of Mines Information Circular, No. 9409, United States Department of the Interior, 1994

    Google Scholar 

  18. Chen S G, Xu J C, Zheng T H, Liu L M. The application of SFA in Dukou’s industrial environment-movement and distribution of Fe, Ti, V in the environment. Sichuan Environment, 1983, 5(1): 14–19 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Spatari S. The contemporary European copper cycle: 1 year stocks and flows. Ecological Economics 2002, 42(1,2): 27–42

    Article  Google Scholar 

  20. China Steel Development Research Institute. China Steel Year Book 2011. Beijing: Metallurgical Industry Press, 2011 (in Chinese)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Green Process and Engineering, National Engineering Laboratory for Hydrometallurgical Cleaner Production Technology, Institute of Process Engineering, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100190, China

    Fangfang Zhang, Huiquan Li, Bo Chen, Xue Guan & Yi Zhang

  2. Graduate School of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China

    Fangfang Zhang

Authors
  1. Fangfang Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Huiquan Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Bo Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Xue Guan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Yi Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Huiquan Li.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Zhang, F., Li, H., Chen, B. et al. Vanadium metabolism investigation using substance flow and scenario analysis. Front. Environ. Sci. Eng. 8, 256–266 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-013-0585-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11783-013-0585-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation