Survey of potential processes for the manufacture of aluminium

Technical Report · Sat Dec 01 04:00:00 EST 1979

DOI:https://doi.org/10.2172/5669730· OSTI ID:5669730

The following alternative processes to the Hall-Heroult cell for the production of primary aluminum - direct carbothermic reduction of alumina are considered; reduction of bauxite to an aluminum-silicon alloy; the subchloride process; the disproportionation of aluminum sulphide; the production through a nitride intermediate; and electrolysis of aluminum chloride, aluminum sulphide and aluminum nitride; and plating from non aqueous solvents. Comparisons of energy consumption are made with current Hall-Heroult technology and with projected improved technology - particularly titanium diboride cathodes and permanent anodes. The major conclusion is that the only alternative technology at present is the Alcoa chloride electrolysis process but that sulphide and nitride electrolytic processes offer potential advantages in the future. With the exception of thermal reduction to an aluminum - silicon alloy none of the carbothermic processes is competitive because they require electric furnaces. Significant improvements in energy consumption could be achieved with titanium diboride cathodes in the Hall-Heroult cell though a long lived cathode has yet to be demonstrated.

• Research Organization: Little (Arthur D.), Inc., Cambridge, MA (USA)
• DOE Contract Number: W-31109-ENG-38
• OSTI ID: 5669730
• Report Number(s): ANL/OEPM-79-4
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
320303* -- Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization-- Industrial & Agricultural Processes-- Equipment & Processes
ALUMINIUM
ALUMINIUM ORES
BAUXITE
CAPITAL
COMPARATIVE EVALUATIONS
COST
DATA
DATA FORMS
ECONOMICS
ELECTROLYSIS
ELECTROLYTIC CELLS
ELECTROREFINING
ELEMENTS
ENERGY CONSERVATION
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
INDUSTRIAL PLANTS
INFORMATION
LYSIS
METALS
MINERALS
NUMERICAL DATA
ORE PROCESSING
ORES
PROCESSING
PRODUCTION
REFINING
TABLES