Mapping the Global Anthropogenic Chromium Cycle: Implications for Resource Efficiency and Potential Supply Risk

Abstract

Chromium (Cr) is a critical metal due to its non-substitutable application in the metallurgy industry and highly uneven distribution of global reserve. However, there is a lack of in-depth analysis of global Cr flow patterns and its trade networks among individual cycles, which leaves the potential barriers and opportunities unexplored for improving chromium resource efficiency. Here, we employ a trade-linked multilevel material flow analysis (MFA) to map the global anthropogenic Cr cycle for year 2019. Social network analysis is also used to identify the key countries involved in the global Cr trade network. The results highlight that the global Cr cycle depends substantially on international trade in different forms, of which stainless steel is the leading application. Although South Africa, Kazakhstan, and Turkey are the major Cr primary resource suppliers, China and India play substantial roles in manufacturing Cr-containing products. Regional disparities exist in the scrap contents of individual country cycles, varying from 7% (uncertainty ranges from 4 to 11%) in China to 88% (uncertainty ranges from 87 to 89%) in India. Additionally, several countries are essential in the global Cr redistribution and in the connectivity of the Cr trade network, which may lead to their strong import dependence and even supply disruption.

Direct, Embedded, and Embodied Trade of Arsenic: 1990–2019

“…Trade flow analysis is an important part of studies investigating the relation between resource extraction and consumption, particularly in studies applying MFA. Recent studies have created and utilized a trade-linked multilevel MFA model to visualize the present day global trajectories of anthropocentric materials, such as iron and steel, chromium, , neodymium, and lithium . This model has also been used to estimate embodied emissions associated with commodities transported to consumers through international trade, including alumina and mercury .…”

Cr(VI) Reduction and Fe(II) Regeneration by Penicillium oxalicum SL2-Enhanced Nanoscale Zero-Valent Iron

“…Chromium (Cr) is an important metal because it is irreplaceable in metallurgical industries . Despite strict environmental regulations, chromium pollution continues to increase globally, causing widespread concern, and consequently, economical, green, and long-term sustainable remediation strategies are urgently needed.…”

“…Chromium (Cr) is an important metal because it is irreplaceable in metallurgical industries. 1 Despite strict environmental regulations, chromium pollution continues to increase globally, causing widespread concern, 2 and consequently, economical, green, and long-term sustainable remediation strategies are urgently needed. The oxidation states of chromium vary from −II to VI, with hexavalent chromium [Cr(VI)] and trivalent chromium [Cr(III)] being the two most stable forms.…”