| Abstract Scope |
In recent decades there is an increasing interest for alternative processes for smelter grade alumina production driven by intentions of producers to save on transportation costs of bauxite and alumina, to reduce the CO2 footprint and to solve the issue of alkaline bauxite residue generated currently by the Bayer process. Besides, new technologies can use high-silica feedstock located close to aluminum smelters, like kaolin clays or fly ash. The presentation shows the benefits and prospects of implementation of the new technologies in the world, and status of the development. One of such examples is UC RUSAL’s development of the alumochloride technology to produce smelter grade alumina from local kaolin feedstock. The technology and the quality of SGA were tested and approved at the mini-plant scale, and a pilot unit has already been designed. The main benefits comprise low operational costs and flexibility in selecting the raw material as it enables the use of virtually inexhaustible sources of aluminum bearing raw material, i.e. aluminum silicate ores, and thus allows reducing the transport and logistics costs. There are also other methods to produce alumina including the Pedersen process, which is currently being revisited under the Ensureal project funded under the EU Horizon 2020 program. |