Method of winning aluminum metal from aluminous ore

Patent · Thu Jan 01 00:00:00 EST 1981

OSTI ID:863879

Loutfy, Raouf O ^[1]; Keller, Rudolf ^[1]; Yao, Neng-Ping ^[2]

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1. Naperville, IL
2. Clarendon Hills, IL

Aluminous ore such as bauxite containing alumina is blended with coke or other suitable form of carbon and reacted with sulfur gas at an elevated temperature. For handling, the ore and coke can be extruded into conveniently sized pellets. The reaction with sulfur gas produces molten aluminum sulfide which is separated from residual solid reactants and impurities. The aluminum sulfide is further increased in temperature to cause its decomposition or sublimation, yielding aluminum subsulfide liquid (AlS) and sulfur gas that is recycled. The aluminum monosulfide is then cooled to below its disproportionation temperature to again form molten aluminum sulfide and aluminum metal. A liquid-liquid or liquid-solid separation, depending on the separation temperature, provides product aluminum and aluminum sulfide for recycle to the disproportionation step.

• Research Organization: Argonne National Laboratory (ANL), Argonne, IL (United States)
• Assignee: United States of America as represented by United States (Washington, DC)
• Patent Number(s): US 4265716
• OSTI ID: 863879
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

method
winning
aluminum
metal
aluminous
bauxite
containing
alumina
blended
coke
suitable
form
carbon
reacted
sulfur
gas
elevated
temperature
handling
extruded
conveniently
sized
pellets
reaction
produces
molten
sulfide
separated
residual
solid
reactants
impurities
increased
decomposition
sublimation
yielding
subsulfide
liquid
recycled
monosulfide
cooled
below
disproportionation
liquid-liquid
liquid-solid
separation
depending
provides
product
recycle
step
aluminum sulfide
elevated temperature
aluminum metal
molten aluminum
sulfur gas
residual solid
solid reactants
form molten
provides product
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