Industrial Sector (27% of nickel use)
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Chemical industries: 8.6%
Food processing: 4.6%
Vessels and tanks: 4.3%
Power generation: 3.2%
Petroleum and gas: 2.2%
Other: 4.0%
Chemical Industries (8.6%)
Concentrated use as stainless steel and nickel-based alloys as tanks, vessels, pipes and ancillary equipment in defined sites (i.e., chemical plants). Specialist constructors, operators and dismantlers mean that alloy identity and values are well recognized. Collection and separation is very efficient. Loss to the general environment is very small.
Assumptions: average life 25 years: 80% recycled in nickel loops, 19% in general steel loop, 1% generally dispersed, including to landfill.
Food processing (4.6%)
Part concentrated use in major food processing sites, part diffuse in smaller sites - dairies, wineries, confectionery, etc. The nickel-containing product is almost entirely stainless steel so is easily recognized by users and dismantlers. Expect a high degree of collection and segregation at dismantling. Most large stainless steel items entering the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) stream will be collected and recycled into the stainless steel loop.
Assumptions: average life 25 years: 80% recycled in nickel loops, 15% in general steel loops, 5% generally dispersed, including to landfill.
General vessels and tanks - for clean, strong, hygienic containment of various products. (4.3%)
Part concentrated use in major food processing sites, part diffuse in smaller sites - dairies, wineries, confectionery, etc. The nickel-containing product is almost entirely stainless steel so is easily recognized by users and dismantlers. Expect a high degree of collection and segregation at dismantling. Most large stainless steel items entering the Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) stream will be collected and recycled into the stainless steel loop.
Assumptions: average life 25 years: 80% recycled in nickel loops, 15% in general steel loops, 5% generally dispersed, including to landfill.
Concentrated use (heat exchangers, gas turbines) as stainless steel and nickel-based alloys. Specialist constructors, operators and dismantlers mean that alloy identity and values are well recognized. Collection and separation is very efficient. Loss to the general environment is very small.
Assumptions: average life 20 years: 80% recycled in nickel loops, 19% in the general steel loop, 1% generally dispersed, including to landfill.
Petroleum and gas (2.2%)
Concentrated use of tubing for drilling and pipelines, drilling platforms, pumps and turbines. Assumptions: average life 20 years: 80% recycled in nickel loops, 19% in the general steel loop, 1% generally dispersed, including to landfill.
Other (4%)
Includes textile printing, industrial use of batteries, catalysts and various specialist chemicals. Use is part concentrated (specialist machinery) and part diffuse, but the diffuse use is in an industrial context where greater attention to collection and recycling should be expected compared to the behavior of the general public.
Assumptions: Average life very varied: six months to 20 years. 50% recycled into nickel loops, 25%
recycled into general metal loops (steel, brass) and 25% generally dispersed, including to landfill.
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