An Energy Saving Option for Production of pure α – Alumina for Industrial Applications Using Waste Aluminium Dross

Abstract

Globally, over four million tonnes of aluminium dross are reportedly produced throughout the world each year, in which about 95% of this material is land-filled. This material represents a major waste from primary and secondary aluminium production that contain about 15 to 70% recoverable metallic aluminium that can be extracted and later used for industrial and engineering purposes.In this study, the production of alumina from aluminium dross via leaching-cum-precipitation route for other industrial purposes was examined. Arrangement of elements, compounds present within the aluminium dross particle size -150 + 70 μm was initially determined by X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), X-ray Diffraction (XRD) and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) to give basis for explaining the dissolution process of aluminium the intermediate material for alumina production. The results obtained showed that 99% of aluminium was leached out using -150+78 mesh ore particle size at a reaction temperature of 60°C for 60 min reaction time with 1.5 M hydrochloric acid. The morphology analysis of the produced alumina at optimal leaching by XRD showed that it contains α-alumina (α-Al₂O₃) and hydrated hydroxyl molecule (OH) as the major compound.