Patent · US Expired

Process for the production of aluminium

US4099959A · kind A · utility

21Cited by
2References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMay 23, 1977
Grant dateJul 11, 1978
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 23, 1997

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S75/961
  • WIPO fieldMaterials, metallurgy
  • WIPO sectorChemistry

Abstract

In a process for the production of aluminium a molten alumina slag, containing combined carbon is circulated through one or more alternately arranged relatively low temperature zones where carbon is added to increase the combined carbon content of the slag by reaction with the alumina slag and high temperature zones where aluminium metal is released by reaction of aluminium carbide and alumina in the slag with consequent depletion of the combined carbon content. Alumina is supplied to the slag at one or more locations. The energy to drive the reactions is preferably supplied by resistance heating of the slag particularly in transit from a low temperature zone to a high temperature zone although usually additional energy is supplied to the slag in the return from a high temperature zone to the next low temperature zone. In most instances the aluminium-liberating reaction is carried out in an upwardly inclined passage and the gas evolved is employed to achieve the circulatory movement of the slag. It is a preferred feature to scrub the gas with carbon without admixed alumina to avoid formation of sticky aluminium oxycarbide in the carbon, which is subsequently added as process charge…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.