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Alternative Al Production Methods: Part 1 - A Review Of Indirect Carbothermal Routes, M A. Rhamdhani, M A. Dewan, G A. Brooks, B J. Monaghan, L Prentice

Brian Monaghan

The production of Al from its ores at present relies on the Bayer (alumina production) and the Hall- Heroult (Al production) process. The cost associated with alumina production and apparent disadvantages of the Hall-Heroult process have led to intensive research to find alternative routes for Al production. The direct carbothermal reduction process has been thoroughly investigated as an alternative technique. Another alternative includes the indirect carbothermal reduction route where alumina (or aluminous ores) is first reduced to intermediate Al compounds before reduced further to Al. The present study reviews and provides systematic thermodynamic analyses of alternative Al production routes. In …