Answer :
To determine how much energy is saved by recycling 4 tons of aluminum instead of producing it from bauxite, we need to consider the energy requirements for both processes.
Energy required to produce aluminum from bauxite:
- Producing one ton of aluminum from bauxite requires approximately 15,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy.
Energy required to produce 4 tons of aluminum from bauxite:
- For 4 tons, the energy required = [tex]4 \times 15,000 \text{kWh} = 60,000 \text{kWh}[/tex].
Energy saved by recycling aluminum:
- Recycling aluminum requires significantly less energy compared to producing it from raw bauxite. For the purpose of this question, we consider that recycling saves the equivalent amount of energy that would be needed if producing from raw materials.
Calculation of energy saved by recycling 4 tons of aluminum:
- Since producing 4 tons from bauxite requires 60,000 kWh, recycling 4 tons instead saves approximately 60,000 kWh.
Therefore, the correct answer to the question is option (d) 60,000 kilowatt-hours.
Recycling aluminum is highly beneficial as it conserves energy, reduces resource consumption, and minimizes environmental impact. This makes it an attractive and sustainable practice in industries and communities worldwide.
