Scribd
Upload
89 views

Bayer Process Chemistry: Dr. M. Coley

The document discusses the Bayer process and Hall-Heroult process for aluminum production. The Bayer process uses a sodium hydroxide solution to extract alumina from bauxite ore. The Hall-Heroult process smelts alumina into aluminum through electrolysis in carbon-lined pots, where aluminum ions are reduced at the cathode and oxygen evolves at the anode. Global aluminum production has increased significantly since the 1950s with aluminum used widely in transportation, construction, and packaging due to its light weight and corrosion resistance.

Uploaded by

Toanique Headman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
89 views

Bayer Process Chemistry: Dr. M. Coley

The document discusses the Bayer process and Hall-Heroult process for aluminum production. The Bayer process uses a sodium hydroxide solution to extract alumina from bauxite ore. The Hall-Heroult process smelts alumina into aluminum through electrolysis in carbon-lined pots, where aluminum ions are reduced at the cathode and oxygen evolves at the anode. Global aluminum production has increased significantly since the 1950s with aluminum used widely in transportation, construction, and packaging due to its light weight and corrosion resistance.

Uploaded by

Toanique Headman
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 22

Bayer Process Chemistry

Dr. M. Coley
Thermal Economy & the Bayer Process
Objectives?
Heat Flow Diagram for the Bayer Process
ALUMINA: Characteristics & Uses
Alumina Smelting
The Hall-Heroult Process - 1

Alumina
hopper
The aluminium ions receive electrons to
become atoms again:

Rxn. at Cathode: 4Al3+ (l) + 12e- → 4Al (l) i.e. Reduction


Rxn. at Anode: 6O2- (l) → 3O2 (g) + 12e- i.e. Oxidation
Overall Rxn. 3C + 2Al2O3 4Al + 3CO2
The Hall-Heroult Process - 3
Takes place in carbon lined steel pots
Al2O3 deposited into molten cryolite at ~ 950 oC
Electrical current passed through mixture
Current flows between the carbon anode (petroleum
coke) and the carbon cathode (graphite)
C from anode combines with O from Al2O3

3C + 2Al2O3 4Al + 3CO2

 Molten Al siphoned off from bottom of pot


 Al is then forged (turned into alloys) or extruded
Forging is a manufacturing process involving the shaping of metal using localized
compressive forces. Forging is often classified according to the temperature at which
it is performed: "cold", "warm", or "hot" forging.
Extruded aluminium with several
hollow cavities

Extrusion is a process used to create


objects of a fixed cross sectional profile
Aluminum – Characteristics & Uses
 Third most abundant element in earth’s crust
 Usually locked in alumina-bearing minerals

The Metal
 Silvery-white, Light-weight, very strong
 High conductivity
 Resistant to atmospheric corrosion
 Most used metal other than iron & steel
 Easily cast, forged, extruded, drawn
 Easily recycled (5% of total energy)
Uses
 Boats, airplanes
 Household utensils, instrument components
 Power lines, motor vehicle parts
GLOBAL ALUMINUM Production
Global Smelter Production of Aluminum

What can you


deduce from
the graph?
Aluminum:
Characteristics, Uses & Production

The Aluminium Life Cycle


2020
2016
Global Bauxite & Alumina
Production 2012
Bauxite
- Early years

• 1821 – Pierre Berthier

• 1886 – Hall-Heroult Process

• 1888 – Bayer Process


(Thomas Bayer)

• 1942 - Discovered in Jamaica

• 1952 – Alcan Kirkvine was established


Charles Hall – Founder ALCOA
Hall developed & patented the process for
smelting alumina in cryolite in a home-
made lab with the help of his sister.
He made most of his apparatus and
prepared his chemicals.
His experiment was successful on
February 23, 1886 and he filed for a patent
on July 9, 1886.
At nearly the same time, Paul Heroult
developed a very similar process.
Hall eventually formed the Reduction
Company of Pittsburgh, which later
became ALCOA.

Hall became wealthy and died in 1914.

You might also like