Kennecott Copper: Air Quality

Air Quality

Since man first discovered fire, he has constantly battled to control smoke and other emissions resulting from the use of flames and heat.

At Kennecott, we have been using extreme heat in the copper smelting process since 1906, when the first smelter was built at the site of today’s modern Utah Copper Smelter complex.

Using the finest smelting technology available, the smelter ranks as one of the cleanest such operations in the world, capturing 99.9 percent of the natural sulfur contained in copper concentrates. The smelter incorporates an enclosed process when making copper and allows for a larger transfer of sulfur dioxide (SO2) to the acid plant, virtually eliminating all open-air exchanges of molten material. In the acid plant, sulfur dioxide is converted into sulfuric acid, which is sold for uses in agriculture and manufacturing.

The Power Plant, which generates 175,000 kilowatts of electricity for Kennecott’s operations in the Oquirrh Mountains, is another major source of air pollution. However, emissions are greatly reduced through a variety of techniques, such as: burning Utah’s low sulfur coal in the summer; capturing particulates in electrostatic precipitators, and low-nitrogen oxide burners when burning coal to reduce the formation of nitrogen oxides.

Throughout Kennecott’s operations, from use of low sulfur diesel fuel in haulage trucks at the Mine, to reclamation, revegetation and dust control at the Tailings Impoundment, and all plant facilities in between, air quality controls are a major priority.

Air Quality Information Brief - June 2010
Electricity Resources Information Brief - March 2010