Researchers compare energy consumption during extraction and synthesis of one diamond carat

Researchers from HSE University, RAS, and Skoltech person compared existent circumstantial vigor depletion successful the accumulation of diamonds utilizing accepted (mining) and innovative (synthesis) methods. Depending connected the technology, 36 to 215 kWh of vigor is consumed to nutrient a 1 carat diamond. It turned retired that not each diamond synthesis technologies surpass extraction methods successful presumption of vigor efficiency. The results of the survey were published successful the diary Energies.

Energy consumption successful the accumulation of diamonds serves arsenic an indicator of wide accumulation efficiency: The little energy is consumed, the little nonstop and indirect circumstantial biology load the process brings about.

Energy costs are 1 of the main burdens successful diamond production. Diamond mining successful Eastern Siberia and South Africa, the sites analyzed successful the paper, does not spell beyond the scope of 96-150 kWh per carat, which astir corresponds to the median vigor efficiency.

Researchers from HSE University, the Institute of Oil and Gas Problems of the Siberian Branch of the Russian Academy of Sciences and Skoltech analyzed circumstantial energy consumption information for diamond production. It was based connected reports provided by the starring diamond producers—Alrosa and De Beers—as good arsenic connected the information taken from laboratory studies of synthesis processes.

"Thanks to the up-to-date data, we were capable to observe the wide dynamics, which is simply a simplification successful vigor consumption. At the aforesaid time, the proposal that the synthesis of diamonds is priori a little environmentally burdensome means of producing diamonds has not been confirmed—at the precise least, diamond mining rivals the wide exertion of chemical vapor deposition (CVD) successful presumption of vigor efficiency," says Dr. Vladislav Zhdanov, HSE Professor and the article's author.

The researchers presume that depending connected the technology, 36 to 215 kWh of vigor indispensable beryllium consumed successful bid to nutrient a 1 carat diamond. When synthesizing diamonds by the means of the High-Pressure-High-Temperature method (with an unfastened cooling circuit), the astir communal 1 today, vigor depletion amounts to lone astir 30 kWh per carat, while, erstwhile synthesizing diamonds by chemic vapor deposition, energy depletion tin transcend 200 kWh. In different words, the vigor appetites of diamond synthesis methods disagree significantly. At the aforesaid time, the method of chemic vapor deposition, contempt its precocious circumstantial vigor intensity, allows 1 to get diamonds with peculiar properties, which are peculiarly utile successful quantum physics and thermonuclear energy.

"In summation to the 2 above-mentioned synthesis technologies, determination are astatine slightest 2 different methods of obtaining diamonds successful laboratory conditions—detonation and cavitation, the circumstantial vigor depletion of which was not considered successful our study," says Professor Zhdanov. "If we effort to find the favorites successful the contention of synthesis technologies, past my stake is connected chemic vapor deposition and cavitation. I judge that these technologies person the maximum potential."

The researchers judge that some methods of diamond production, mining and synthesis, person important imaginable to summation their vigor efficiency, which volition yet person affirmative interaction connected the full industry.

The results of the survey tin beryllium of important usage to some diamond producers and those extremity users who are funny successful the biology footprint of the products they purchase.

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More information: Vladislav Zhdanov et al, A Comparative Analysis of Energy and Water Consumption of Mined versus Synthetic Diamonds, Energies (2021). DOI: 10.3390/en14217062

Provided by National Research University Higher School of Economics