The Life Cycle Assessment of Cyanide Containers in Ghana Authors: Deborah Engelbrecht and Kevin Mearns Presenter: Kevin Mearns

Aim To assess the life cycle (‘cradle to grave’) of Intermediate Bulk Containers (IBCs) of Sodium Cyanide, as used by the Gold Mining Sector in Ghana Cyanide is toxic chemical imported into Ghana No legislation for disposal, reuse, recycling of IBCs and the associated liners in Ghana Disposed of by Incineration Returned to country of origin Extreme cases – building material

Objectives determine the origin of the IBC; quantify the number of IBCs imported to Ghana annually; evaluate methods of disposal of the IBC and its liners and the effect thereof on the environment; identify which category in terms of human health, ecosystem quality and resources is impacted on the most by the different life cycles; ascertain whether transportation within Ghana has a noteworthy effect on the environment.

Methodology Case study based on ISO 14040 method recommended for life cycle assessments (Figure 4) Data collection by means of Desktop study Questionnaires Interviews Observations Fieldwork Data analysis Qualitative Quantitative Simapro 7.1 awarded by Pré-Consultants used to process the data

Goal and scope definition The goal and scope is to assess the life cycle IBCs of sodium cyanide, as used by the gold mining sector in Ghana. Inventory analysis Eco-indicator method in Simapro 7.1 generated inventory lists in terms of (example in Table 1) raw material used emissions to soil emissions to water emissions to air Substance emitted into water Unit IBC reused IBC incinerated Polyethylene liner incinerated Polypropylene liner incinerated Arsenic, ion kg 5.24 x 103 1.78 x 104 1.96 x 103 3.65 x 103 Cadmium, ion 2.42 x 102 8.20 x 102 3.84 x 102 6.91 x 102 Cesium-137 kBq 2.25 x 107 7.68 x 107 4.89 x 106 1.21 x 107

Impact Assessment Impact categories selected by software Human health Ecosystem quality Resources Elements included categorisation classification characterisation (Figure 5) normalisation (Figure 6) damage assessment (Figure 7) impact assessment (Figure 8)

Interpretation Identification of most important issues (Figure 9) most important are highlighted in red and least important are in yellow) Most noteworthy life cycle – ranked in order incinerated IBC polypropylene liner reused IBC polyethylene liner Completeness, Sensitivity and Consistency check Incineration and transportation cannot be quantified accurately as models were generated for use in Europe Assumptions, methods and data were consistent with goal and scope of LCA

Conclusions Objective 1 IBC and liners originate outside of Ghana Quantities differ each year as the cyanide use varies according to the gold produced. The IBC is returned to the supplier or reuse, incineration of IBC and all liners results in emissions into the atmosphere, combustion of fuel used for transportation releases toxicants into the atmosphere. The life cycles are arranged in order of magnitude IBC Incinerated Polyethylene liner Reused IBC The main emissions as identified in this study were those resulting from transportation

Acknowledgements References Pre-Consultants for awarding the use of Simapro 7.1 National Research Foundation for funding Kevin Mearns for the presenting of the poster References DEAT, (2004): Life Cycle Assessment, Integrated Environmental Management, Information Series 9, Department of Environmental Affairs and Tourism (DEAT), Pretoria.