C10: Using resources Flashcards
Define sustainable development
Development that meets the need of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs
give 4 examples of what natural resources are used for
- food,
- timber
- clothing
- fuels
describe what synthetic resources are and what their use is
- They are resources made by scientists.
- They can replace or supplement natural resources.
Define finite resources and give an example
Resources that will eventually run out.
example: fossil fuels
Define renewable resource and give an example
- sources of power that quickly replenish
themselves and can be used again - wood
Define potable water
water that is safe to drink
Give three sources of fresh water
- rivers
- lakes
- groundwater
What is the difference between potable and pure water
potable water contains safe levels microbes and dissolved substances whereas pure water does not
Describe how potable water is
produced in the UK from rain
water collected in lakes and
river
- Choose an appropriate source of fresh water
- Pass the water through filters to remove large
objects - Sterilize the water to kill any microbes using ozone,
chlorine or UV light
What are the sterilizing agents for potable water and evaluate them
- chlorine, ozone or ultraviolet light
- chlorine is a toxic gas so the amount added to water has to be carefully monitored
- using ultraviolet to kill microbes avoids adding chemicals to the water but is more expensive
When is desalination used
- when fresh water supplies are limited
- when only salty/sea water is available
How is desalination carried out
- by distillation or reverse osmosis
- these require large amounts of energy
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How is wastewater produced
- urban lifestyles and industrial processes produce large amounts of wastewater
Give the stages of sewage
treatment
- screening and grit removal:
- sedimentation to produce sewage sludge and effluent
- anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge
- aerobic biological treatment of effluent.
Describe the screening and grit removal stage
sewage passes through a metal grid that filters out large objects
Describe the sedimentation stage
- the sewage is left so that solid sediments settle out of the water.
- The sediments sink to the bottom of the tank.
- produces sludge and effluent
Describe the anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge stage
- Bacteria are added to break down the sludge anaerobically.
- The remaining sludge is dried and produces biogas which can be used as a fuel.
Describe the aerobic biological treatment of effluent stage
- Bacteria are added to the effluent and break this down by aerobic respiration.
- The bacteria then settle out of the water.
- The water is now safe enough to be released back into the environment.
what is involved in traditional mining
methods
traditional mining methods include
- digging, moving and disposing of large amounts of rock.
Explain why scientist are
looking for new ways to extract
metals from their ores
- Metal ores are a finite resource
- Extracting metals requires a lot of energy
Describe what is meant by a low-grade copper ore
- a rock ore does not contain much copper
Name two alternative processes
to extract copper from low-grade ores
- Phytomining
- Bioleaching
Describe the process of phytomining
- uses plants to absorb metal compounds from the soil
- Harvest and burn the plants to produce ash
- The ash contains the metal compound
- the ash is processed by electrolysis or displacement with scrap metal
Describe the process of bioleaching
- Grow bacteria near the metal ore
- Bacteria produce leachate solutions that contain metal
compound - Process the leachate by electrolysis or displacement with scrap metal
Explain why phytomining and
bioleaching is more
sustainable
avoid the digging, moving and disposing of large amounts of rock associated with traditional mining techniques
Give a disadvantage of phytomining and bioleaching
- too slow to carry out
Define a Life Cycle Assessment
- looking at the whole life of a product and - assessing its impact on the environment and sustainability.