Method of winning aluminum metal from aluminous ore

Patent ·

OSTI ID:5490121

Loutfy, R O; Keller, R; Yao, N P

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 (A1S) 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.

• DOE Contract Number: W-31-109-ENG-38
• Assignee: TIC; ERA-05-024361; EDB-80-066796
• OSTI ID: 5490121
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
ALUMINIUM
PRODUCTION
ALUMINIUM SULFIDES
BAUXITE
SEPARATION PROCESSES
CARBON
CHEMICAL REACTIONS
COKE
ENERGY CONSERVATION
REDUCTION
SULFUR
ALUMINIUM COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM ORES
CHALCOGENIDES
ELEMENTS
METALS
MINERALS
NONMETALS
ORES
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
360101* - Metals & Alloys- Preparation & Fabrication
320000 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization