Method of winning aluminum metal from aluminous ore

Patent · Tue May 05 00:00:00 EDT 1981

OSTI ID:6028272

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

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.

• Assignee: Department of Energy
• Patent Number(s): US 4265716
• OSTI ID: 6028272
• 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 COMPOUNDS
ALUMINIUM ORES
ALUMINIUM OXIDES
ALUMINIUM SULFIDES
BAUXITE
CHALCOGENIDES
COKE
ELEMENTS
ENERGY CONSUMPTION
METALS
MINERALS
NONMETALS
ORE PROCESSING
ORES
OXIDES
OXYGEN COMPOUNDS
PELLETS
PROCESSING
RECOVERY
RECYCLING
SULFIDES
SULFUR
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
VERY HIGH TEMPERATURE