About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2026 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Alumina & Bauxite
|
| Presentation Title |
Innovative Recovery of Smelter-Grade Alumina from Production Line Dust |
| Author(s) |
Jose Carlos Fogo Junior, Juacir Bueno de Camargo Junior |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Juacir Bueno de Camargo Junior |
| Abstract Scope |
The aluminum industry faces the continuous challenge of improving resource efficiency. One of the persistent problems is the accumulation of alumina-rich dust under production lines, commonly referred to as production line alumina dust. This material, historically classified as waste, contains significant recoverable fractions of smelter-grade alumina. TGA Tech Gestão Ambiental has developed an industrial process capable of treating 60,000 tons/year of this material. The process achieves a recovery of 75% smelter-grade alumina, 10% electrolytic bath suitable for reuse, 14% contaminated bath and less than 1% is waste. This results in 99% total material recovery by mass. In addition to operational gains, this solution contributes to reducing environmental impacts throughout the aluminum value chain, from bauxite mining to smelting. According to industry estimates, pot room dust losses can represent 0.5% to 1.5% of the alumina input to smelters, which equates to more than 500,000 tons/yar of recoverable alumina worldwide. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: Light Metals |
| Keywords |
Recycling and Secondary Recovery, Sustainability, Aluminum |