Recycling of

Aluminium
Aluminium is extensively used in our society

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 Bauxite (Al 0 ) ore
2 3

Ore- rock eg. bauxite

contains mixture of
minerals from which a metal
can be extracted
Bauxite most common ore
Bauxie rock
containing Al. http://www.alibaba.com/product-free/10440
0440/Bauxite_Ore_Alumina_67_.html

Contains hydrated aluminium oxide, haematite,

silica and clay materials
 Bauxite mines

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z
Abundance
Abundance of Metals in the Lithosphere
8

6
Abundance % by mass

0
Aluminium Iron Calcium Sodium Potassium Manesium

Metals

Al the most abundant metal

Al- not widely used until development of cost efficient extraction
method
Reactivity of Aluminium
Al NEVER found as
pure metal- found
with other
naturally occurring
compounds
(minerals)

Al Most reactive
metal in common use

Large amounts
energy required to
separate Al making
the process very
expensive
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 BAYER POCESS
Involves separation of bauxite from impurities

Separation of • Al(OH)3(s) + OH (aq) (Al(OH)4) (aq)

bauxite from • Bauxite heated in hydroxide solution
impurities

Concentrated solution of • Precipitation reaction occurs

hot sodium aluminiate -
filtered, cooled and seeded • Al(OH4)(aq) Al(OH)3 +OH
with Al (OH)3

Aluminia – produced by Al2O3(S) + 3H2O

decomposing aluminium
• 2Al(OH)3 (s)
hydroxide
Electrolysis – USES TOO MUCH ELECTRICAL ENERGY
Al dissolved in molten cryolite (Na3AIF6), electrolysis
occurs at 950 c
2Al2O3(l) +3C(s) 4Al(l)+3CO2(g)

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 Mining of
Bauxite

Process of
producing Separation of
Aluminia (pure
aluminium is very aluminium
expensive as large oxide)
amounts of energy
required
Electrolysis to
produce
Aluminium
Cast into moulds
Roll (make into sheets)
Pour into
moulds
(shaping of
Aluminium
Extrude
(force into shape)
 Efficiency of Recycling
Recycling-INEXPENSIVE, much cheaper than
producing aluminium
Aluminium can be recycled many times
1. Collection of scraps
2. Separation of scraps
3. Remelting
4. Refining/ reprocess

Top image
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 Recycling Al v.s Producing Al
Metal Commercial Cost of
price Production Energy needed
$A/tonne $A/tonne
Producing Al Recycling Al
Al $2000 $1600
65000MJ 800MJ

Refining Smelting Total The only energy required for

bauxite Aluminium recycling aluminium is melting!
15 000 MJ 50 000 MJ 65 000 MJ
Producing Al uses 64 200 MJ more
energy than energy used for
Recycling .
 Energy MJ to Produce One kg of Metal
250

200
Energy MJ to produce 1kg of

150

100

50
metal

0
Metal Ore-Bauxite Recycling

Source
-Difference of 193 MJ
-Much less energy used to recycle aluminium than to produce it
Recycling- social and economic advantages
Less pollution-reduces emissions to atmosphere
Less acid rain (sulfur and nitrogen oxides) released
Less disturbance of environment in mining
Conserves natural resources-less use of fossil fuels
Ecological sustainability
Reduces material disposed in landfill
Much less energy used
Recycled many times and produce products of same
quality
Why recycle?
Recycling of Al uses only 5% of energy required to
produce aluminium from its ore
20 cans can be made from recycling using the same
amount of energy used to make 1 can.
By recycling 1 can the energy saved enough to run tv
for 3 hrs
Every can thrown out pollutes earth and wastes energy
Reduce
Reuse
Recycle
Bibliography
 Knapp, Brian J 1996, Aluminium Reed, Port Melbourne, Vic
 Silverman, Buffy 2008, Recycling : reducing waste Heinemann Library, Harlow
 Irwin,D.I,Farrelly,R.F.2007,Chemistry Contexts 1, 2nd edition, Pearson education,Vicoria.
 Schell, Marilyn & Molyneux, Kevin 2007, Preliminary `Science Press, Marrickville, NSW
 Mulvany, Christine & Otmar, Renée 2002, Aluminium Macmillan Education, South Yarra, Vic
 Healey, Justin 2010, Recycling and managing waste Spinney Press, Thirroul, N.S.W
Journal article
 Environment management advice, QLD government.2010,Reduce, Reuse, Recycle,Recycling and managing waste,2010,volume305,pg 18-19
 Mineral Councilof Australia, 2010,Commonwealth of Australia, Western Australia,25/3/10
http://www.australianminesatlas.gov.au/education/rock_files/aluminium.jsp
 Tutorvista,2010,collegeboard,vic.,29/3/10,
http://www.tutorvista.com/content/chemistry/chemistry-iv/p-block-elements/aluminium.php
 Tutorvista,2010,collegeboard,vic.,29/3/10,
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refurl=http://www.tutorvista.com/content/chemistry/chemistry-iv/p-block-elements/aluminium.php&h=222&w=451&sz=15&tbni
d=HA6hWZWHDjkn6M:&tbnh=63&tbnw=127&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhall%2Bheroult%2Bprocess&zoom=1&q=hall+heroult+pro
cess&usg=__3QzaB83EtpDKYQGqFxL3dzdflqk=&sa=X&ei=guOXTceCB5GyvgO_sMHnCw&ved=0CDUQ9QEwAw

 PanadolUSA,2009,VISA,USA,26/3/10
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en&start
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&iact=
hc&vpx
=838&vpy=287&dur=4791&hovh=194&hovw=259&tx=39&ty=145&oei=G_2XTbLHHoqavgO3nqWEDA&page=1&ndsp=21&ved=1t:42
9,r:19,s:0
 Beccary, January 29, 2011 at 11:20 am (aluminium alloy manufactureres) , platinium sponsor,30/3/10
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