Inventory of Pollution Reduction Options for an Aluminium Pressure Die Casting Plant

Abstract

This study presents an overview of options aiming to reduce emissions to air, soil and water from an aluminium die casting plant located in Portugal. We identify eighteen pollution reduction options and then estimate their potential to reduce the pollution, and the costs associated with their implementation to the die casting plant. The different types of options considered include typical end-of-pipe solutions, as well as alternative techniques or modifications in process operations of the plant. Finally, we calculate the implementation costs for the company of each reduction option. We conclude that there are promising opportunities to reduce the pollution from aluminium pressure die casting. Our inventory includes options with net negative costs, indicating that the company may in fact gain from implementing these options. Even though our study specifically focuses on one particular plant, the results may be interesting for the aluminium pressure die casting sector industry in general.