| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2024 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Alumina & Bauxite
|
| Presentation Title |
Bauxite Processing via Sulfide Chemistry |
| Author(s) |
Caspar Stinn, Lucas N Marden, Ethan Benderly-Kremen, William Gilstrap, Antoine Allanore |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Antoine Allanore |
| Abstract Scope |
The Bayer process for alumina production is identified as a major contributor to ecotoxicity, fossil fuel resource depletion, and ozone depletion in the aluminum supply chain. This process generates 2 to 3 tonnes of highly alkaline bauxite residue, or “red mud”, per tonne of metal produced. Significant quantities of critical elements and iron are also lost to red mud. Alternative approaches that improve sustainability and byproduct recovery in alumina production are clearly needed. Herein, we demonstrate a new sulfur based process chemistry for bauxite refining, enabling the formation of distinct aluminum-rich oxide and iron-rich sulfide phases in the mineral matrix. These phases are predicted to be amenable to physical separation, enabling the recovery of iron and critical materials as sulfides that historically have been lost to red mud generation. This novel approach may leverage existing solid-gas roasting reactors and comminution / physical separation equipment. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Light Metals |
| Keywords |
Aluminum, Extraction and Processing, Pyrometallurgy |