Aluminum purification system
AssigneeReynolds Metals Company
InventorRobert M. Kibby
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Abstract
A method for extracting aluminum of substantial purity from furnace products resulting from carbothermic reduction of alumina-bearing ores and contaminated with up to about 30 weight percent of aluminum carbide is disclosed. The method involves contacting the furnace product with a high alumina-containing molten slag in the substantial absence of reactive carbon, so as to cause the alumina-containing slag to react with the aluminum carbide, thereby diminishing the aluminum carbide content of the furnace product.
Claims8
A process for decreasing aluminum carbide contamination of aluminum produced by carbothermic processes, said process comprising:
- A. preparing said aluminum contaminated with about 2-20 weight percent aluminum carbide as a melt at an initial temperature sufficiently high to keep said melt in a fluid state;
- B. contacting said melt with a high-alumina containing molten slag in the absence of reactive carbon so as to cause the alumina-containing slag to react with the aluminum carbide in said melt;
- and
- C. recovering aluminum having a diminished aluminum carbon content.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.