Using resources Flashcards
What do humans use Earth’s resources for
warmth,shelter,food,transport
what do natural sources provide (fftc)
food,timber,clothes,fuels (supplemented by agriculture)
where do we get finite resources from
earth,oceans,atmosphere (to provide energy and materials)
what is sustainable development
meets the needs of current generations without compromising the ability of future generations
what is potable water
water that is safe to drink
is potable water pure
no
what do you need low levels of in drinking water
dissolved salts and microbes
what dictates the method used to obtain potable water (s/lc)
supplies of water and local conditions
how is most potable water produced in the UK
choose appropriate source,pass water through filter beds,sterilise
where is most of the potable water obtained from in the UK
rain water provides water with low levels of dissolved substances (fresh water) which collects in the ground and in lakes and rivers
what are three ways to sterilise water
chlorine,ozone,ultraviolet light
What is another method to obtain potable water if fresh water is limited?
Desalination of salty or sea water
What process is used in desalination?
Distillation or using membranes by reverse osmosis
What are the issues with desalination and reverse osmosis?
Require large amounts of energy
What produces large amounts of waste? (U/IP)
Urban lifestyles and industrial proceses
What is removed from sewage and agricultural waste?
Organic matter and harmful microbes
What is removed from industrial waste?
Organic matter and harmful chemicals
What are the steps in sewage treatment? (Sgrspssaeadssabtoe)
Screening and grit removal,sedimentation to produce sewage sludge and effluent,anaerobic digestion of sewage sludge,aerobic biological treatment of effluent
What is happening to earths metal resources?
Becoming limited and scarce
2 ways to extract copper from low grade ores
Phytomining and bioleaching
What do phytomining and bioleaching avoid compared to traditional methods?
Digging,moving and disposing of large amounts of rocks
What does bioleaching use to extract the copper?
Bacteria to produce a leachate that contain metal compounds
How can metal compounds be extracted after bioleaching?
By displacement with scrap iron or electrolysis
How is copper extracted by phytomining?
Plant are used absorb metal compounds,the plants are harvested and then burned,this produces ash that contains metal compounds
How can metal compounds be processed to obtain the metal?
Example includes using scrap iron to displace the copper from a solution or by electrolysis
What is a life cycle assessment (LCA)?
A way to assess the environmental impact of a product at all stages
What are the stages assessed in a life cycle assessment?
Extracting and processing raw materials,manufacturing and packaging,use and operation during its lifetime,disposal and end of its useful life,includes transport and distribution
What resources can be easily quantified?
Water resources,energy sources,production wastes
What type of substance is hard to quantify?
Pollutants as based on judgement so is not purely objective
What is the issue with selected or abbreviated life cycle assessments?
Misused to reach conclusion e.g. false advertising claims
How can we reduce the use of resources?
Reuse and recycle
What are impacts of reuse and recycle?
Reduces of limited resources,energy use,reduces waste so environmental impact
Examples of products from limited resources
Metals,glass,building materials,clay ceramics,most plastics
Where are the resources obtained from for these products?
Quarrying and mining which causes environmental issues
What are the two ways to reuse these products?
Reuse (glass) and recycled
How can metals be recycled?
Melting and recasting or reforming into different products
What dictates the amount of recycling needed for a metal
Material and its final use (product)
How can glass bottles be reused?
Crushed then melted to make different glass products
What happens to a product that can’t be reused?
Can be recycled for a different use
What dictates the amount of separation required for recycling?
Depends upon the material and the properties required of the final product
