| |
| | Electrochemistry Encyclopedia --- Aluminum production |
 | | Alumina (aluminum oxide) powder, fed to the electrolytic process, is produced by the Bayer process from bauxite ore. Bauxites contain 40-60% alumina, combined with silica (silicon oxide), iron oxide, and titanium dioxide. |
 | | In the Bayer process, the alumina is dissolved in hot sodium hydroxide solution and the iron oxide and other oxides are removed as insoluble "red mud." Aluminum hydroxide is precipitated from the clarified solution by cooling and seeding with aluminum hydroxide crystals. |
 | | Hall's first electrolytic cells, or "pots," were of cast iron, 24 inches (~61 cm) long, 16 inches (~41 cm) wide and 20 inches (~51 cm) deep, with a 3-inch (~8-cm) baked carbon lining. |
| electrochem.cwru.edu /ed/encycl/art-a01-al-prod.htm (2351 words) |
|