Is brass biodegradable? (5 benefits of recycling brass) 

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The article will shed light on the biodegradability aspect of brass. Other factors covered would include: 

  • Is brass biodegradable?
  • Is brass eco-friendly?
  • Can you recycle brass and how many times?
  • Can recycling brass undo its non-biodegradable status?
  • Is brass the best option among other metals?
  • What are the pros and cons of brass?
  • Are there any (more) eco-friendly alternatives to brass?
  • FAQs

Is brass biodegradable?

Brass is not biodegradable because it is a fairly persistent metal. However, it can be recycled multiple times.

The recycling aspect of brass gives it a great benefit to it over other metals because brass can be recycled as many times as required. If brass is recycled properly, its effects as a non-biodegradable waste can be mitigated in this way. 

There are a number of applications of brass such as musical instruments, the architecture industry, electronics, and  plumbing. Owing to these applications and subsequent qualities, it is among the best options available in terms of metals. 

How readily can brass degrade?

Biodegradability is a characteristic of a substance to be degraded with natural means that a substance should be made of such raw materials which are environment friendly and have zero or very less impact on the surrounding environment. 

Brass is a metal. So it clearly shows that it can not be degraded biologically. Metals which have low corrosion resistance will break down fast but it does not mean they are biodegradable. Therefore brass is not biodegradable.

Biodegradability may be defined as the breakdown of waste by the action of microbes and enzymes. It is an important parameter to assess how green and eco-friendly a substance is. 

Therefore, brass, like other metals, is not biodegradable and will require a significant amount of time to degrade. It is a fairly persistent metal and is estimated to last for a thousand years. 

Is brass eco-friendly or sustainable?

To answer this question we have to look at the manufacturing process of brass. As we already know brass is an alloy of different metals which have to be mined. The process of mining is very expensive with high carbon emissions into the atmosphere. But most of the brass used today is totally recycled.

Brass is an alloy of copper and zinc with varying percentages. Mostly brass is made up of 67% copper and 33% zinc, which can be changed according to to need. Due to its favourable characteristics brass is the first choice to be used as a metal in a wide range of industries. 

It has huge corrosion resistance capacity, it is antimicrobial, it has a low melting point with fewer chance of sparking, it is ductile being a good conductor and brass is non-ferromagnetic (can be distinguished from other metals during the process of recycling).

Therefore, in this regard brass can not be called eco-friendly or sustainable. The main reason is that it is not biodegradable and that its making is an energy-intensive process. 

However, if the question is answered from comparative analysis, then brass can be called biodegradable. The main reason is that it can be recycled as many times as preferred and it also offers great functional qualities like that of steel. 

Recycling brass scraps makes it the first metal alloy to be recognized as eco-friendly and sustainable to the environment. The process of recycling other metals like steel and aluminium is very expensive and is not sustainable because they require loads of energy which will eventually come from the burning of fossil fuels making them unsustainable. 

On the other hand, brass has a low melting point which will require less energy making the whole recycling process less expensive. Brass is also non-ferromagnetic which will take less effort and machinery to sort out the brass metal from a mixture of other metals during recycling. So one can safely say that brass is highly sustainable and eco-friendly. 

Can you recycle brass & how many times? (5 benefits of recycling brass) 

We have discussed the characteristics of brass in terms of biodegradability and sustainability. The strength, hardness, non-ferromagnetic nature, and high corrosion resistance of this alloy make it highly suitable for use in different sectors. But the question to be addressed is how many times we can recycle and reuse it. 

The good news is that we can recycle brass an infinite number of times. The whole brass metal industry is dependent on recycled brass which will provide them the raw material for new brass-based products with the addition of some other elements based on the composition of the material.

The recycled brass is just like new metal formed because it holds the same compositional characteristics with no change in its structure and function. This will have zero impact on the environment as it can be recycled fully without producing harmful by-products. Brass is economically and environmentally sustainable. 

The recycling of brass may offer the following advantages to the environment and people: 

  • Better waste management 
  • Better resource management 
  • Decreased GHG emissions
  • Decreased mining for raw materials
  • Reduced environmental impacts such as pollution and global warming 

Can recycling brass undo its non-biodegradable status?

To get an answer to this question first we have to know what is recycling and biodegradability of an element. Recycling is done to use a substance that has already been used once while biodegradation means the decomposition of a substance by nature into another form. These two processes are fundamentally different.

We know brass can be recycled but will it change its non-biodegradable nature? No, the process of recycling cannot change the nature of the substances in which they were formed. Brass is a metal alloy, we can add other metals to get our desired compositional structure of a product during recycling but we can not change its natural characteristics and make it biodegradable.

However, in a hypothetical situation, if brass is recycled continuously and not discarded in any way, its effects as a non-biodegradable waste can be mitigated. 

Is brass the best option among other metals?

To answer which metal is the best option in terms of its quality and eco-friendliness, certain factors have to be considered. We will compare brass with two widely used metals i.e., aluminium and steel. To select the best of them we will compare their characteristics like strength, corrosion resistance and weight.

Steel is a very strong metal primarily composed of Iron mixed with carbon. It is lightweight and strong, but the problem with steel is that it does not offer corrosion resistance as good as brass and requires a lot more energy to be recycled. Aluminium has the same problem, it is also lighter than brass but cannot be recycled easily due to its high melting point.

On the other hand, brass has strength like steel, very good corrosion resistance and is a good conductor. Brass is heavier than steel. The most important factor in terms of eco-friendliness is that brass has a lower melting point than steel or aluminium which means it is a lot easier to recycle and hence is used widely and is better than steel and aluminium. 

What are the pros and cons of brass?

If we look into the history of metal alloys then we will come to know that brass is the oldest metal alloy. The mixture of copper and zinc made it the winner in terms of uses. It has a wide range of functions to perform due to its favourable characteristics. From nut bolts to perform the function of corrosion resistance in ships, and boats we will find brass.

There are different types of brass with different copper-zinc combinations and the addition of other metals like lead. Each has its own unique function. Brass metals are used in musical instruments, the Architecture industry, electronics, and plumbing

The advantages of brass include durability, being highly recyclable, high corrosion resistance, good conductor and, being antimicrobial in nature. There are not many disadvantages of brass but some are presented here. The brass used in making jewellery can cause allergic reactions. Its colour can change which is totally dependent on the percentage level of copper used in its construction.

Are there any eco-friendly alternatives to brass?

As discussed earlier, no metal is biodegradable. Metals can only be recycled hence the eco-friendliness of metal can only be judged from the recycling perspective. 

Iron, steel, aluminium, all of these alternatives of brass may have more strength and durability than brass and they are definitely more lightweight but they require a lot more heat energy to be recycled which not only increases the cost for manufacturers but also induces more fossil fuel usage hence many manufacturers do not recycle scrap steel and aluminium.

Brass, on the other hand, is perfect for its recycling due to its low melting points which requires a lot less energy than aluminium or steel hence it is the number one choice for eco-friendly metals.

Conclusion 

It is concluded that brass is not biodegradable because it is a fairly persistent metal. However, it can be recycled multiple times.

The recycling aspect of brass gives it a great benefit to it over other metals because brass can be recycled as many times as required. If brass is recycled properly, its effects as a non-biodegradable waste can be mitigated in this way. 

There are a number of applications of brass such as musical instruments, the architecture industry, electronics, and plumbing also. Owing to these applications and subsequent qualities, it is among the best options available in terms of metals. 

Frequently Asked Questions: Is brass biodegradable?

How many times can brass be recycled? 

Brass can be recycled as many times as required. That is why it is often analogised to eco-friendly products even though it is not biodegradable. 

Is brass harmful to human health?

Yes, brass may be harmful to human health. For example, brass used in making jewellery can cause allergic reactions. 

References

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