A Review of the Risks of Copper Foil Manufacturing Plants. A New Facility in Catalonia, Spain

Electrolytic copper foil (elecfoil) is a thin copper foil with a thickness less than 10 µm, which is made through electrolysis of a copper sulfate solution. It is an essential component for the manufacture of electric batteries. More specifically, it is widely used to make cathode collectors in rechargeable lithium batteries. For coming years, the expected demand of elecfoil is potentially very important. Therefore, there will be an evident need of new manufacturing plants of copper foil. In relation to this, as it can happen with any industrial facility, elecfoil manufacturing plants may pose potential environmental and health risks. These risks may affect to the surrounding ecosystems, as well as to the population living in the vicinity of the facilities. Contamination of air (particulate matter, SO2, NOx, VOCs), water (copper and other heavy metals), and soil (heavy metals and other harmful substances) is an issue of notable concern. In Mont-roig del Camp (Catalonia, Spain), a new elecfoil is currently planned. Considering the social concern that this facility –the first one in Spain- has raised in the population of the area, the current state-of-the-art on the electrolytic copper foil manufacturing plants is here reviewed. The scientific databases Scopus, PubMed and Google Scholar, as well as information obtained from different sources (Internet) were used. The available information is very scarce, if any. Anyhow, to minimize the potential negative environmental and health impacts of new elecfoil manufacturing plants, strict periodical controls, comprehensive environmental management systems, and relevant regulations are strongly required.