Other ferro-alloys

1. Scope and Applicability

This PCR applies to factory-gate production of ferro-alloys that are not separately classified as ferro-manganese, ferro-chromium, or ferro-nickel. Covered products include ferrosilicon, ferrovanadium, ferromolybdenum, ferrotungsten, ferrotitanium, ferroniobium, ferroboron, ferrophosphorus, and other iron-based master alloys meeting the declared residual category boundary. The data package shall identify one actual alloy grade; this PCR does not authorize an unspecified average across unlike alloy chemistries or production routes.

The foreground boundary begins with receipt of burden-bearing raw materials and energy at the ferro-alloy plant and ends with a saleable, composition-tested product at the factory gate. It includes onsite material handling, reduction or remelting, tapping and ladle treatment, solidification, crushing, screening, internal recycling, and associated air-pollution-control operations when performed. It excludes upstream mining and production already represented by supplier datasets, transport after the factory gate, use in iron or steel making, downstream steel production, and capital goods unless the study goal explicitly includes them.

2. Product Category Identity

Field	Value
canonical_pcr_id	pcr.metal-products-machinery-and-equipment.basic-metals.other-ferro-alloys
classification_refs	CPC 3.0: 41115 Other ferro-alloys
covered_products	Declared grades of ferrosilicon, ferrovanadium, ferromolybdenum, ferrotungsten, ferrotitanium, ferroniobium, ferroboron, ferrophosphorus, and other residual ferro-alloys
excluded_products	Ferro-manganese; ferro-chromium; ferro-nickel; pig iron and spiegeleisen; directly reduced iron; iron or steel powders; crude steel; pure alloying metals; silicon metal when not sold as a ferro-alloy
representative_product	A composition-tested, saleable declared grade of other ferro-alloy at the producing plant
production_route	Site-declared carbothermic submerged-arc reduction, metallothermic or silicothermic reduction, induction/remelting, or another documented route; do not combine unlike routes without separate inventories
market_state	Solid lumps, granules, or powder at the producing plant gate, with declared alloy grade, particle-size class, and packaging state

3. Reference Flow

Field	Value
What	Production of one declared grade of other ferro-alloy for use as an alloying, deoxidizing, or process additive
How much	1 kg net saleable product
How well	Conforming to the producer-declared chemical composition, carbon content, physical form, particle-size class, and acceptance specification
How long or cycle	One production campaign or reporting period represented by the dataset; no service-duration credit is assigned
reference_flow_link	reference_product_other_ferroalloy

Field	Value
Reference amount	1 kg net saleable other ferro-alloy at the factory gate
Reference product flow	Other ferro-alloy, declared grade, at plant
Reference flow property	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66
Reference unit group	Units of mass 93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66
Reference unit	kg
Required qualifiers	alloy designation and composition; carbon content; reduction or remelting route; furnace or reaction-vessel type; plant geography; product form and particle-size class; moisture if material; packaging state; reporting period; electricity supply; carbon-reducer origin; off-gas fate; slag, dust, and off-spec-product fate

When constructing a foreground data package, the items listed in Required qualifiers must be declared in dataset metadata, process notes, reference flow comment, product description, or an equivalent data package field. Missing required qualifiers make the reference flow definition incomplete for that data package.

4. Measurement and Unit Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Required property	Required unit	Rule
reference_mass	reference product	Mass 93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66	kg	Use the net mass of accepted saleable product at the factory gate; exclude pallets and packaging, and report moisture when it materially affects comparability.
grade_assay	product and intermediate alloy	Mass fraction	kg/kg	Report the campaign-weighted chemical assay and carbon content used to identify the declared grade; do not infer grade from trade name alone.
energy_conversion	electricity and other metered energy	Energy	kWh or MJ	Preserve the metered energy carrier and unit; document every conversion factor and do not merge electricity with heat or fuel.
mass_reconciliation	each production route	Mass	kg	Reconcile measured charge, saleable product, internally recycled material, slag, captured dust, and other recorded losses for the same reporting period; explain unresolved imbalance.
air_emission_mass	direct atmospheric emissions	Mass	kg	Report pollutant mass for the declared air compartment and monitoring basis; retain dry/wet gas, oxygen correction, capture, flare, or recovery assumptions.

5. System Boundary

Include all onsite operations needed to convert received feedstocks into the declared saleable grade, including charge preparation, furnace or reaction-vessel operation, tapping, ladle treatment, casting or granulation, crushing and screening, internal recycling, and operation of dust or off-gas controls. Upstream production of electricity, ores, concentrates, reducers, fluxes, scrap preparation, and packaging shall be linked as background datasets rather than duplicated inside the foreground process.

Boundary Abstraction

Field	Value
declared_starting_condition	Composition- and state-declared ores, concentrates, oxides, iron units, reducers, fluxes, electrodes, electricity, and water as received at the ferro-alloy plant boundary
starting_condition_role	Burden-bearing upstream inputs to the foreground ferro-alloy production route
product_classification_scope	One declared other-ferro-alloy grade within the residual CPC 41115 boundary; separately classified ferro-manganese, ferro-chromium, and ferro-nickel are outside scope
recursive_input_rule	When an input is itself an other ferro-alloy, record it as a separately sourced upstream product with its grade, route, and supplier dataset; do not recursively reproduce the same foreground route inside itself
upstream_dataset_requirement	Link each purchased material and energy input to a geographically and technologically representative cradle-to-gate dataset, or disclose a named data gap without substituting a proxy UUID
disclosure	Declare product chemistry and form, process route, furnace enclosure, electricity supply, carbon-source origin, internal recycling, off-gas capture or use, slag and dust fate, allocation, geography, and reporting period

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
boundary_plant_gate	foreground system	Start at receipt of burden-bearing inputs and end at accepted product leaving the producing plant; include onsite pollution-control operations associated with production.	us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995
boundary_route_separation	multi-route facilities	Keep carbothermic, metallothermic, remelting, and conditioning inventories separate until measured common services require documented allocation.	us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995
boundary_offgas_residues	furnace gas, slag, and dust	Record off-gas combustion, recovery, flaring, captured dust, slag reuse, sale, recycling, or disposal according to the actual site fate.	us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

6. Process Inventory Structure

Process Map

process_id	process_name	inclusion	inclusion_condition	role	quantitative_reference
carbothermic_smelting	Carbothermic submerged-arc smelting	conditional	Include when the declared alloy is produced by carbon reduction in a submerged electric arc or equivalent resistance furnace	Foreground reduction, tapping, and primary gas control	kg molten or cast route product
metallothermic_reduction	Metallothermic or silicothermic reduction	conditional	Include when aluminium, silicon, or both reduce a declared metal oxide to the ferro-alloy	Foreground reaction, tapping, and primary dust control	kg molten or cast route product
product_conditioning	Product cooling, crushing, screening, and release	required	Always include; zero-value an operation only with evidence that the saleable product bypasses it	Foreground finishing and factory-gate release	1 kg net saleable other ferro-alloy

Process: Carbothermic submerged-arc smelting (carbothermic_smelting)

Inputs

Product flows

Quartz feed (cb_quartz)

Record quartz only when silica is charged as a reactant for the declared grade.

• Selected flow: Quartz, declared metallurgical grade
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured dry or as-received mass with moisture basis retained
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast carbothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cb_materials
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Iron oxide concentrate (cb_iron_oxide_concentrate)

Record the chemically declared iron-bearing oxide feed when it crosses the plant boundary.

• Selected flow: Iron oxide concentrate, declared grade
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured received mass and retained moisture and iron assay
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast carbothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cb_materials
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Steel scrap iron unit (cb_steel_scrap)

Record prepared steel scrap when it supplies iron to the furnace charge.

• Selected flow: Steel scrap, declared grade and preparation state
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured charged mass net of rejected receipts
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast carbothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cb_materials
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Metallurgical coke reducer (cb_metallurgical_coke)

Record coke as one distinct carbon-reducer input; do not combine it with charcoal, coal, or wood chips.

• Selected flow: Metallurgical coke, declared grade
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured charged mass with moisture, ash, and carbon basis retained
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast carbothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cb_materials
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Limestone flux (cb_limestone)

Record limestone when charged as a flux for the declared furnace campaign.

• Selected flow: Limestone, declared flux grade
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured charged mass with moisture and carbonate basis retained
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast carbothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cb_materials
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Graphite electrode consumption (cb_graphite_electrode)

Record the measured net consumption of the declared furnace electrode type.

• Selected flow: Graphite electrode, declared furnace grade
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: opening stock plus receipts minus closing stock and recoverable remnants
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast carbothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_cb_electrodes
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Furnace electricity (cb_electricity)

Record electricity delivered to the submerged-arc furnace and its dedicated controls separately from other energy carriers.

• Selected flow: Alternating current, actual site supply
• Flow property / unit: Energy / MJ
• Amount rule: metered electricity attributable to the furnace campaign, converted to MJ with the documented conversion rule
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast carbothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_cb_electricity
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Cooling-water make-up (cb_cooling_water)

Record only make-up water entering the plant system; report recirculation separately in operational metadata without counting it repeatedly as a boundary input.

• Selected flow: Cooling-water make-up, declared source and treatment state
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: metered make-up water assigned to the furnace campaign
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast carbothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cb_water
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Molten or cast carbothermic ferro-alloy intermediate (cb_molten_alloy)

Record the actual declared alloy grade transferred to conditioning, preserving its physical state.

• Selected flow: Molten or cast other ferro-alloy intermediate, declared grade
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured transferred mass reconciled to taps and retained inventory
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast carbothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_cb_product
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Waste flows

Carbothermic furnace slag (cb_slag)

Record slag as waste only when its actual site fate meets the dataset's waste-flow definition; separately disclose internal recycle or sale as a co-product.

• Selected flow: Carbothermic ferro-alloy furnace slag, declared composition
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured mass leaving the process by the declared fate
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast carbothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cb_residues
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Captured furnace dust (cb_captured_dust)

Record collected particulate removed by baghouse, scrubber, or other primary control with its treatment state and destination.

• Selected flow: Captured carbothermic ferro-alloy furnace dust
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured collected mass adjusted for retained moisture when relevant
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast carbothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_cb_residues
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Elementary flows

Fossil carbon monoxide to air (cb_co_air)

Record uncaptured or discharged fossil carbon monoxide after any combustion, recovery, or flare operation. Biogenic carbon monoxide is a distinct exchange and shall not be merged into this row.

• Selected flow: carbon monoxide (fossil) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-924e-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66) / kg; unit group Units of mass (93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66)
• Amount rule: monitored or engineering-calculated fossil carbon-monoxide stack and fugitive mass for the campaign
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast carbothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_cb_air_emissions
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Fossil carbon dioxide to air (cb_co2_air)

Record direct fossil carbon dioxide from metallurgical coke, fossil electrode consumption, and any other declared fossil carbon source. Biogenic carbon dioxide is a distinct exchange and shall not be merged into this row.

• Selected flow: carbon dioxide (fossil) 08a91e70-3ddc-11dd-923d-0050c2490048
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66) / kg; unit group Units of mass (93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66)
• Amount rule: monitored or carbon-balance-derived direct fossil carbon-dioxide mass for the campaign
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast carbothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_cb_air_emissions
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Process: Metallothermic or silicothermic reduction (metallothermic_reduction)

Inputs

Product flows

Vanadium pentoxide feed (mt_vanadium_pentoxide)

Record vanadium pentoxide only for a declared ferrovanadium route that consumes it.

• Selected flow: Vanadium pentoxide, declared purity and physical state
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured charged mass and retained assay
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast metallothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_mt_materials
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Molybdenum trioxide feed (mt_molybdenum_trioxide)

Record molybdenum trioxide only for a declared ferromolybdenum route that consumes it.

• Selected flow: Molybdenum trioxide, declared purity and physical state
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured charged mass and retained assay
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast metallothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_mt_materials
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Tungsten trioxide feed (mt_tungsten_trioxide)

Record tungsten trioxide only for a declared ferrotungsten route that consumes it.

• Selected flow: Tungsten trioxide, declared purity and physical state
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured charged mass and retained assay
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast metallothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_mt_materials
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Niobium pentoxide feed (mt_niobium_pentoxide)

Record niobium pentoxide only for a declared ferroniobium route that consumes it.

• Selected flow: Niobium pentoxide, declared purity and physical state
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured charged mass and retained assay
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast metallothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_mt_materials
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Titanium dioxide feed (mt_titanium_dioxide)

Record titanium dioxide-bearing feed only for a declared ferrotitanium route that consumes it.

• Selected flow: Titanium dioxide, declared purity and physical state
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured charged mass and retained assay
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast metallothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_mt_materials
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Aluminium reductant (mt_aluminium)

Record aluminium as a distinct reducer when used in the declared metallothermic reaction.

• Selected flow: Aluminium metal, declared purity and particle form
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured charged mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast metallothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_mt_materials
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Ferrosilicon reductant (mt_ferrosilicon_reductant)

Record ferrosilicon as a distinct reducer when used in the declared silicothermic reaction.

• Selected flow: Ferrosilicon, declared silicon and carbon grade
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured charged mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast metallothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_mt_materials
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Steel scrap iron unit (mt_steel_scrap)

Record prepared steel scrap when it supplies iron to the metallothermic charge.

• Selected flow: Steel scrap, declared grade and preparation state
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured charged mass net of rejected receipts
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast metallothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_mt_materials
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Calcium oxide flux (mt_calcium_oxide)

Record calcium oxide only when it is charged as a flux in the declared reaction.

• Selected flow: Calcium oxide, declared flux grade
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured charged mass
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast metallothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_mt_materials
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Auxiliary electricity (mt_electricity)

Record electricity for charge preparation, preheating, fume extraction, and dedicated route equipment without combining it with fuel.

• Selected flow: Alternating current, actual site supply
• Flow property / unit: Energy / MJ
• Amount rule: metered electricity attributable to the metallothermic campaign, converted to MJ with the documented conversion rule
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast metallothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_mt_electricity
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Molten or cast metallothermic ferro-alloy intermediate (mt_molten_alloy)

Record the actual declared alloy grade transferred to conditioning, preserving its physical state.

• Selected flow: Molten or cast other ferro-alloy intermediate, declared grade
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured recovered alloy mass reconciled to reaction batches and retained inventory
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast metallothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_mt_product
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Waste flows

Metallothermic reaction slag (mt_slag)

Record the chemically declared reaction slag according to its actual recycling, sale, treatment, or disposal fate.

• Selected flow: Metallothermic ferro-alloy reaction slag, declared composition
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured mass leaving the process by the declared fate
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast metallothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_mt_residues
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Captured reaction dust (mt_captured_dust)

Record particulate captured from charging, reaction, tapping, and cooling with its actual treatment state and destination.

• Selected flow: Captured metallothermic ferro-alloy reaction dust
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured collected mass adjusted for retained moisture when relevant
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg molten or cast metallothermic route product
• Basis kind: Process output (process_output)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_mt_residues
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Elementary flows

Process: Product cooling, crushing, screening, and release (product_conditioning)

Inputs

Product flows

Molten or cast ferro-alloy intermediate (pc_molten_alloy)

Record the route-linked intermediate entering cooling or finishing; preserve alloy grade and producing process.

• Selected flow: Molten or cast other ferro-alloy intermediate, declared grade
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured transferred mass from the declared upstream route
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg net saleable other ferro-alloy
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_pc_internal_transfer
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Conditioning electricity (pc_electricity)

Record electricity for cooling auxiliaries, crushing, screening, conveying, and dedicated dust collection.

• Selected flow: Alternating current, actual site supply
• Flow property / unit: Energy / MJ
• Amount rule: metered electricity attributable to product conditioning, converted to MJ with the documented conversion rule
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Site-specific (site_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg net saleable other ferro-alloy
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_pc_electricity
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Waste flows

Elementary flows

Outputs

Product flows

Saleable declared-grade other ferro-alloy (reference_product_other_ferroalloy)

This is the reference product after acceptance testing and final mass determination.

• Selected flow: Other ferro-alloy, declared grade, at plant
• Flow property / unit: Mass (93a60a56-a3c8-11da-a746-0800200b9a66) / kg; unit group Units of mass (93a60a57-a4c8-11da-a746-0800200c9a66)
• Amount rule: 1 kg net accepted product by definition; collect total campaign output before normalization
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: 1 kg net saleable other ferro-alloy at the factory gate
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_pc_product_release
• Sources: unstats-cpc-3-2025; us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Waste flows

Off-spec ferro-alloy scrap (pc_offspec_scrap)

Record rejected or off-size alloy as waste only when it leaves internal recycling and meets the declared waste-flow status.

• Selected flow: Off-spec other ferro-alloy scrap, declared grade
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured mass by actual internal recycle, external recycling, sale, or disposal fate
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Product-specific (product_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg net saleable other ferro-alloy
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_pc_residues
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Captured crushing and screening dust (pc_captured_dust)

Record dust collected from product breaking, crushing, screening, transfer, and storage with its actual fate.

• Selected flow: Captured other ferro-alloy crushing and screening dust
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: measured collected mass attributable to the declared product campaign
• Value mode: Foreground record (foreground_record)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg net saleable other ferro-alloy
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Collected record (collected_record)
• Collection protocol: cp_pc_residues
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

Elementary flows

Residual PM10 to air (pc_pm10_air)

Record residual particulate matter no greater than 10 micrometres discharged after conditioning dust controls.

• Selected flow: Particulate matter, PM10, to air
• Flow property / unit: Mass / kg
• Amount rule: monitored or engineering-calculated discharged mass attributable to the declared campaign
• Value mode: Calculated value (calculated_value)
• Specificity: Technology-specific (technology_specific)
• Normalization basis: per kg net saleable other ferro-alloy
• Basis kind: Reference flow (reference_flow)
• Evidence kind: Calculated from collection (calculated_from_collection)
• Collection protocol: cp_pc_air_emissions
• Sources: us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995

7. Allocation and Co-product Handling

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
allocation_subdivision_first	route and campaign inventories	Avoid allocation by separate metering and subdivision of carbothermic, metallothermic, remelting, and conditioning operations wherever records permit.
allocation_internal_recycling	internally recycled alloy, slag, and dust	Keep burdens and credits for material recycled within the foreground system inside that system; do not create an exported co-product for an internal transfer.	us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995
allocation_exported_coproduct	sold slag, recovered furnace gas, or other exported co-product	Apply documented physical causality when measurable; otherwise allocate unresolved shared burdens by dry mass, report the sensitivity, and disclose product prices without using them silently as the default basis.	us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995
allocation_shared_services	shared electricity, water, extraction, and conditioning services	Allocate measured shared services by causal meter, operating time, gas volume, or equipment throughput; use product mass only when no more causal record exists and disclose the affected share.

8. Foreground Data Collection, Calculation, and Quality Rules

Data Collection Protocols

protocol_id	process_id	flow_role	record_type	raw_fields	collection_method	unit	frequency	temporal_coverage	site_scope	aggregation_rule	quality_evidence
cp_cb_materials	carbothermic_smelting	charge materials	weighbridge, batch sheet, receipt assay	material identity; supplier; lot; wet mass; moisture; assay; charged mass; returns	reconcile receipts, stock change, and furnace batch sheets	kg	each receipt and charge	complete declared campaign or annual period	all carbothermic furnaces in scope	sum charged mass by atomic material and divide by route output	calibrated scales, supplier certificates, moisture and assay records
cp_cb_electrodes	carbothermic_smelting	graphite electrode	inventory and maintenance log	opening stock; receipts; closing stock; recoverable remnants; electrode grade	stock-balance calculation	kg	each reporting period	same period as furnace output	all carbothermic furnaces in scope	net consumed mass divided by route output	stock count, purchase records, maintenance log
cp_cb_electricity	carbothermic_smelting	furnace electricity	revenue or submeter record	meter id; opening and closing reading; losses; campaign assignment; supplier mix	calibrated meter reading	kWh	continuous or per batch	same period as furnace output	furnace and dedicated controls	sum attributable readings and divide by route output	meter calibration and reconciliation to site invoice
cp_cb_water	carbothermic_smelting	cooling-water make-up	water submeter and treatment log	source; treatment state; make-up volume or mass; blowdown; recirculation	submeter reading and water balance	kg	daily or continuous	same period as furnace output	furnace cooling system	count only boundary make-up and divide by route output	meter calibration and water-balance closure
cp_cb_product	carbothermic_smelting	molten or cast route product	tap, ladle, casting, and stock record	alloy grade; tap mass; transfer mass; assay; inventory change	reconcile taps, transfers, and inventory	kg	each tap or batch	complete declared campaign	all carbothermic route output	net transferred grade-specific mass	scale calibration, assay certificate, signed production log
cp_cb_residues	carbothermic_smelting	slag and captured dust	container, skip, weighbridge, and destination record	residue identity; mass; moisture; composition; destination; internal recycle	direct weighing and destination reconciliation	kg	each movement	same period as furnace output	all route residue destinations	sum by atomic residue and fate	scale tickets, laboratory composition, transfer manifest
cp_cb_air_emissions	carbothermic_smelting	carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide	CEMS, stack test, gas-use, flare, and carbon-balance record	gas flow; concentration; temperature; pressure; moisture; oxygen; operating time; carbon source; recovery and flare	validated monitoring or documented mass balance	kg	continuous or campaign-representative test	same period as furnace output	stacks and material fugitive sources in scope	calculate each pollutant separately and divide by route output	calibration gas, stack-test report, uncertainty and data-coverage statement
cp_mt_materials	metallothermic_reduction	oxide feeds, reducers, iron units, and flux	batch sheet, receipt assay, and scale record	material identity; purity; physical state; lot; charged mass; returns	batch-scale record reconciled to receipts and stock	kg	each reaction batch	complete declared campaign	all metallothermic vessels in scope	sum each atomic material and divide by route output	calibrated scales, supplier assay, batch authorization
cp_mt_electricity	metallothermic_reduction	auxiliary electricity	submeter or equipment-hour record	meter reading; equipment load; operating time; campaign assignment; supplier mix	direct metering, or documented load-time calculation when unmetered	kWh	each batch or reporting period	same period as reaction output	dedicated preparation, extraction, and handling equipment	sum attributable electricity and divide by route output	meter calibration or equipment specification and operating log
cp_mt_product	metallothermic_reduction	molten or cast route product	batch yield, tap, casting, and assay record	alloy grade; recovered mass; retained metal; assay; inventory change	reconcile reaction batches and recovered alloy	kg	each batch	complete declared campaign	all metallothermic route output	net transferred grade-specific mass	calibrated scales, assay certificate, signed batch record
cp_mt_residues	metallothermic_reduction	reaction slag and captured dust	container, weighbridge, and destination record	residue identity; mass; moisture; composition; destination; internal recycle	direct weighing and destination reconciliation	kg	each movement	same period as reaction output	all route residue destinations	sum by atomic residue and fate	scale tickets, laboratory composition, transfer manifest
cp_pc_internal_transfer	product_conditioning	incoming alloy intermediate	transfer and inventory record	source process; grade; physical state; transfer mass; beginning and ending inventory	reconcile route outputs with conditioning receipts	kg	each transfer	complete declared campaign	all conditioning lines in scope	net grade-specific mass entering conditioning	scale calibration and cross-process reconciliation
cp_pc_electricity	product_conditioning	conditioning electricity	submeter or equipment-hour record	meter reading; line; operating time; product grade; supplier mix	direct metering, or documented load-time calculation when unmetered	kWh	continuous or each shift	same period as saleable output	cooling, crushing, screening, conveying, and dedicated controls	sum attributable electricity and divide by accepted product	meter calibration or equipment specification and operating log
cp_pc_product_release	product_conditioning	saleable product	packing, dispatch, stock, and quality-release record	grade; lot; gross mass; packaging tare; net mass; assay; particle size; moisture; release status	reconcile accepted net mass, dispatch, and stock change	kg	each released lot	complete declared campaign	all product release points	sum accepted net product by declared grade	calibrated scales, laboratory certificate, release authorization
cp_pc_residues	product_conditioning	off-spec scrap and captured dust	rejection, container, weighbridge, and destination record	residue identity; grade; mass; moisture; destination; internal recycle	direct weighing and fate reconciliation	kg	each movement	same period as saleable output	all conditioning residue destinations	sum by atomic residue and fate	scale tickets, rejection record, transfer manifest
cp_pc_air_emissions	product_conditioning	PM10	stack test, dust-control, and operating record	gas flow; PM10 concentration; operating time; control status; material throughput	validated stack test or engineering calculation tied to actual control operation	kg	campaign-representative test and each control-state change	same period as saleable output	conditioning exhausts and identified fugitive sources	calculate discharged PM10 and divide by accepted product	stack-test report, control-maintenance log, uncertainty statement

Calculation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Formula or rule	Inputs	Output	source_ids
calc_reference_normalization	all inventory rows	Divide each period-total exchange by accepted net mass of the same declared product grade; keep unlike grades or routes separate unless a documented allocation rule is applied.	period exchange; accepted net product mass; grade; route	exchange per 1 kg reference product
calc_stock_balance	electrodes and stored materials	Consumption = opening stock + receipts - closing stock - externally returned or transferred material; reconcile unexplained loss.	opening stock; receipts; closing stock; returns; transfers	net consumed mass
calc_carbon_emissions	direct carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide	Use validated concentration-and-flow monitoring or a documented carbon balance; subtract recovered or exported carbon-containing gas only when measured and avoid double counting subsequent combustion.	gas flow; concentration; time; moisture; oxygen; carbon input; recovered gas; flare records	separate direct CO and CO2 masses	us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995
calc_mass_reconciliation	each route and conditioning	Compare total measured mass inputs with product, internal transfers, residues, measured emissions, and inventory change; retain the imbalance and its investigation rather than forcing closure.	material inputs; products; residues; measured emissions; inventory changes	documented route mass-balance residual

Data Quality Requirements

requirement_id	Applies to	Requirement	Evidence
dq_product_identity	reference product	Identify one alloy grade, chemical assay, carbon content, physical form, particle-size class, and acceptance specification.	lot release and laboratory certificates
dq_route_identity	all foreground processes	Identify the reduction or remelting route, furnace or vessel type, enclosure and gas-control configuration, and material preparation performed onsite.	process flow diagram, equipment register, campaign log
dq_temporal_alignment	all exchanges	Use the same reporting period for material, energy, production, residue, and emission records; disclose gaps, shutdowns, and abnormal campaigns.	period reconciliation and coverage statement
dq_geographic_technology	upstream links	Select supplier datasets that match the declared geography, technology, product state, and grade; document any unresolved identity instead of silently using a proxy.	supplier metadata and UUID audit record
dq_completeness	inventory	Include each actually used material, energy carrier, waste, and direct emission as one atomic row and reconcile it to source records.	signed completeness checklist and mass or energy reconciliation
dq_uncertainty	calculated and monitored values	Retain meter, assay, sampling, emission-test, allocation, and data-gap uncertainty and state how it affects the normalized result.	calibration, laboratory QA, stack-test QA, and uncertainty statement

9. Validation Rules

rule_id	Applies to	Rule	source_ids
validation_identity	product category	Reject a data package that omits the alloy grade, composition, carbon content, route, physical form, or factory-gate state.	unstats-cpc-3-2025
validation_exclusions	product category	Reject use of this PCR for ferro-manganese, ferro-chromium, ferro-nickel, pig iron, directly reduced iron, iron or steel powder, crude steel, or a pure alloying metal.	unstats-cpc-3-2025
validation_reference_mass	reference flow	Confirm that normalized output equals 1 kg net accepted product and excludes packaging tare.
validation_route_processes	process map	Require the applicable production route plus product conditioning; explain every omitted normally associated operation.	us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995
validation_atomic_inventory	inventory	Reject combined utilities, fuels, raw materials, wastes, or emissions; each row must identify one physical or chemical exchange.
validation_internal_transfers	route and conditioning links	Confirm that grade-specific upstream route output equals conditioning input after documented inventory change and loss.
validation_offgas_residues	direct emissions and wastes	Confirm that carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, slag, captured dust, PM10, and off-spec product are reported when applicable and their actual recovery, reuse, sale, or disposal fate is declared.	us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995
validation_uuid_status	all UUID-bearing rows	Accept only directly audited public Tiangong state-code-100 identities whose names, flow type, classification, property, unit group, product state, geography, technology, and comments match the row.
validation_range_evidence	quantitative QA ranges	Do not infer an external range from fewer than two independent original-text sources with compatible boundary, functional unit, and product state; omit the range and preserve the foreground collection requirement when evidence is insufficient.

10. Published Dataset Profile

Field	Value
dataset_role	Grade-, route-, site-, and period-specific foreground production dataset eligible for later publication after methodology and identity review
downstream_use	Secondary dataset or background dataset for systems consuming a declared other ferro-alloy at the producing plant gate
allowed_use	Studies whose alloy grade, physical form, geography, production route, electricity supply, carbon-source origin, and residue treatment are compatible or explicitly adjusted
excluded_use	Unspecified average ferro-alloy; separately classified ferro-manganese, ferro-chromium, or ferro-nickel; pure alloying metal; downstream steelmaking; a different route or grade without documented representativeness
required_metadata	PCR id and version; product and grade; composition and carbon content; form and particle size; route and equipment; plant geography; reporting period; production volume; electricity supply; reducer origin; off-gas, slag, dust, and off-spec-product fate; allocation; UUID audit status
required_quality_disclosure	Primary-data coverage; meter and assay QA; stack-test or calculation basis; mass-balance residual; allocation shares; upstream dataset representativeness; unresolved UUIDs and range-evidence needs; uncertainty and data gaps
update_trigger	Change in alloy grade or specification, production route, furnace or controls, electricity supply, reducer origin, residue fate, allocation, plant geography, or a material shift in inputs, emissions, or production efficiency

11. Data Sources

Source id	Type	Reference	Used for
unstats-cpc-3-2025	Official guidance (official_guidance)	United Nations Statistics Division, CPC Version 3.0 Structure and Explanatory Notes, 30 June 2025, https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ/Download/In%20Text/CPC_Ver_3.0_Structure_30Jun2025.csv and https://unstats.un.org/unsd/classifications/Econ/Download/In%20Text/CPC_Ver_3.0_Exp_Notes_30Jun2025.pdf (retrieved 2026-09-04)	Official product classification identity and residual boundary relative to separately listed ferro-manganese, ferro-chromium, and ferro-nickel
us-epa-ap42-ferroalloy-1995	Official guidance (official_guidance)	U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, AP-42 Section 12.4 Ferroalloy Production, October 1986, reformatted January 1995, https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2020-11/documents/c12s04.pdf (retrieved 2026-09-04)	Ferro-alloy definition, submerged-arc and metallothermic route decomposition, raw-material preparation, tapping and conditioning, slag and dust handling, and direct air-emission coverage
cn-mofcom-ferroalloy-2009	Official guidance (official_guidance)	Ministry of Commerce of the People's Republic of China, Announcement No. 93 of 2009 and annexed ferro-alloy export enterprise categories, https://www.mofcom.gov.cn/zcfb/blgg/art/2009/art_25c5e2496e634d28b4ba58211d059275.html (retrieved 2026-09-04)	Verification of professional Chinese ferro-alloy terminology, including “其他铁合金” and names of representative alloy families