Aluminium extraction process of pure aluminum - Remi Claeys Aluminium

Aluminium extraction process of pure aluminum

The extraction process of pure aluminum from mineral takes place in two phases.

1st phase: bauxite -> alumina
Through a chemical process (Bayer process) all the impurities are removed from the bauxite, so that only a white powder, alumina remains. In general, production of alumina takes place in the vicinity of the bauxite mining.

2nd phase: Alumina -> pure aluminum
The production of pure (primary) aluminum from alumina is done by converting the white powder into pure liquid aluminum and oxygen through an electrolysis process. The necessary electricity is mainly generated by hydropower.
This process is limited to those places where electricity is rather cheap.

The electrolysis aluminum companies sell their pure aluminum (99.5 to 99.9%) in the form of sheets, extruded blocks or rods.

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