Decarbonization process for carbothermically produced aluminum

Abstract

A method of recovering aluminum is provided. An alloy melt having Al4C3 and aluminum is provided. This mixture is cooled and then a sufficient amount of a finely dispersed gas is added to the alloy melt at a temperature of about 700° C. to about 900° C. The aluminum recovered is a decarbonized carbothermically produced aluminum where the step of adding a sufficient amount of the finely dispersed gas effects separation of the aluminum from the Al4C3 precipitates by flotation, resulting in two phases with the Al4C3 precipitates being the upper layer and the decarbonized aluminum being the lower layer. The aluminum is then recovered from the Al4C3 precipitates through decanting.

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