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Eurometaux Position on the review of the European waste management legislation

Eurometaux, September 2013

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European Energy Efficiency Industries call for Energy Efficiency First to be integrated in the EU Heating & Cooling Strategy

The Energy Efficiency Industrial Forum (EEIF) welcomes the European Commission’s efforts in making sure that energy efficiency is at the heart of the Energy Union framework, and calls for Energy Efficiency First to be integrated as the overarching theme into the European heating & cooling strategy.

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European Non-Ferrous Metals Industry: The Emissions Trading System (ETS) should remain a cost-effective tool to reduce emissions, not worsen the economic crisis

Eurometaux, July 2012

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How can bronze works of art be protected from corrosion if they are situated outdoors?

Either by the use of lacquers, wax polishing, or both.

How can corrosion or staining of machined aluminium bronze components be avoided during shipping?

The key is to clean them thoroughly, remove water, protect them and keep them dry, so:

  1. After cleaning dry thoroughly using a dewatering fluid such as WD40.
  2. Remove displaced water with forced warm air.
  3. Coat with a protective coating such as benzotriazole inhibitor, or a block co-polymer.
  4. Pack into benzotriazole treated paper lined wooden boxes. Moisture absorbent granules may also be used to keep the air inside the boxes dry.

When unpacked, remove the coatings with a phosphoric-based solution and dry them thoroughly.

How is Bordeaux mixture prepared?

Bordeaux mixture is prepared in various strengths from copper sulphate, hydrated lime (calcium hydroxide) and water. The conventional method of describing its composition is to give the weight of copper sulphate, the weight of hydrated lime and the volume of water in that order.

The percentage of copper sulphate weight to the weight of water employed determines the concentration of the Bordeaux mixture. A 1% Bordeaux mixture, which is the norm, would have the formula 1 :1:100, the first 1 representing 1 kg copper sulphate, the second representing 1 kg hydrated lime, and the 100 representing 100 litres (100 kg) water.

As copper sulphate contains 25% copper metal, the copper content of a 1% Bordeaux mixture would be 0-25% copper. The quantity of lime used can be reduced considerably. 1 kg copper sulphate requires only 0.225 kg of chemically pure hydrated lime to precipitate all the copper. Good proprietary brands of hydrated lime are now freely available but, as even these deteriorate on storage, it is safest not to exceed a ratio of 2:1, i.e. a 1:0.5:100 mixture.

In preparing Bordeaux mixture, the copper sulphate is dissolved in half the required amount of water in a wooden or plastic vessel. The hydrated lime is mixed with the balance of the water in another vessel. The two ‘solutions’ are then poured together through a strainer into a third vessel or spray tank.

How is copper used on a farm?

Copper sulphate, because of its fungicidal and bactericidal properties, has been employed as a disinfectant on farms against storage rots and for the control and prevention of certain animal diseases, such as foot rot of sheep and cattle.

How long has copper been used in agriculture?

The first recorded use was in 1761, when it was discovered that seed grains soaked in a weak solution of copper sulphate inhibited seed-borne fungi.

How long has copper plumbing been used?

The earliest recorded use of copper for conveying water is a water conduit in Abusir, Egypt, which dates back to 2750 BC and is still in a good state of preservation. Copper water pipes and cisterns were widely used by the Romans – examples can be found at the archaeological site of Herculaneum, destroyed by the eruption of Vesuvius in 79AD. At the beginning of this century, copper started being used again in Europe and North America.

How many copper alloys are available for aquaculture so far?

Three. They are: Copper-Zinc, Copper-Nickel, and Copper-Silicon.