Environment Emission and Material Flow Analysis of Chromium in Korea

With the stabilization of Korea's industrialization, it has become interested in the efficient use of rare metals, climate change and industrial environment and safety etc. It is thus making efforts to implement economic policies that address such issues. Therefore it is necessary to understand the demand, supply and use of metal materials. Since 2010, the Korean government has developed the integrated material flow methodology and has been trying to examine the demand, supply and use of metal materials. In 2013, the Korean government surveyed the material flow of chromium. Material flow analysis and environment emission of chromium were investigated 8 steps; (1) raw material, (2) first process, (3) Intermediate product, (4) End product, (5) Use/accumulation, (6) Collection, (7) Recycling, (8) Disposal. Chromium was used for stainless steel, alloy steel, coated sheets, refractory material and coating materials. Recycling was done mainly in use of stainless steel scrap. To ensure efficient use of chromium, process improvement is required to reduce the scrap in the intermediate product stage. In the process of producing of the products using chromium, it was confirmed that chromium was exposed to the environment. It requires more attention and protection against environment emission of chromium.