A method for producing an aluminous material

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method for producing an aluminous material, in particular, aluminium oxyhydroxychlorides and alpha alumina. The method comprising providing an aluminium-containing feedstock and separating the aluminium-containing feedstock to provide a pregnant liquor. The pregnant liquor is concentrated to obtain a saturated aluminium solution and subjected to a crystallisation process. The aluminium chloride hexahydrate crystals slurry is cooled, and the crystals separated from a spent liquor. The aluminium chloride hexahydrate crystals is heated under controlled air flow to obtain dehydrated aluminium oxyhydroxychlorides. Optionally, the aluminium chloride hexahydrate crystals may be dried under at least a partial vacuum before being heated under controlled air flow. The aluminium oxyhydroxychlorides may be subsequently decomposed and calcined to form primarily alpha alumina.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.