About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Alumina & Bauxite
|
| Presentation Title |
A Novel Route to Phase-Controlled Alumina From Anorthosite via Single-Step Calcination |
| Author(s) |
Fernando Sitorus, Saima Sultana Kazi, Jean Patrick Pinheiro, Duygu Yilmaz |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Fernando Sitorus |
| Abstract Scope |
This study presents a novel approach for producing alumina from aluminum chloride hexahydrate (ACH), offering a simplified alternative to conventional two-step calcination. This method integrates a controlled neutralization step with closed-loop acid recovery, allows single-step thermal treatment while minimizing hydrochloric acid during calcination. This significantly reduces equipment corrosion risks and removes the need for complex and expensive corrosion-resistant kilns typically required in conventional ACH-based production. Thermodynamic simulation using OLI Flowsheet was employed to investigate the neutralization of ACH with NaOH, examining aqueous speciation, alumina hydrate precipitation (gibbsite/bayerite, Al(OH)3 and boehmite, AlOOH), and chloride partitioning as functions of NaOH dosage and temperature. These insights guided the experimental design by identifying conditions that favor effective neutralization and the initiation of alumina hydrate nucleation. Laboratory validation confirmed that effective neutralization improves control over the purity of alumina produced, phase evolution during calcination and may contribute to circular chemical use through acid regeneration. Overall, this approach offers a cleaner, more efficient, and infrastructure-friendly pathway for high purity alumina production.. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Light Metals |
| Keywords |
Ceramics, Hydrometallurgy, Recycling and Secondary Recovery |