By John Grandfield, Grandfield Technology. Introduction Climate change has brought the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of aluminum smelting into sharp focus. Other important sustainability issues include bauxite residue dam integrity, waste disposal (spent potling, dross, etc.), water consumption, working conditions, biodiversity, etc. In this article, past work to reduce GHG emissions is examined together with […]
GFG Alliance is creating a new global aluminum enterprise, which will consolidate the aluminum operations acquired in recent years into a single entity. The new vertically-integrated aluminum group, known as ALVANCE Aluminium Group, aims to drive synergies and take full advantage of opportunities to expand. “The creation of ALVANCE highlights the global nature of our […]
Aluminium Bahrain B.S.C. (Alba) announced that select pots in its new Potline 6 have passed the final performance tests with results exceeding the guarantees under the technology transfer agreement between Alba and Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA). The company officially inaugurated its new potline in November 2019, following its initial commissioning in December 2018. Completed in […]
Elysis, the joint venture between Alcoa and Rio Tinto, announced that is has successfully produced the first commercial batch of aluminum without any direct carbon dioxide emissions at the Alcoa Technical Center (ATC) in Pittsburgh, PA — using a breakthrough, carbon-free smelting technology. The first purchase of the aluminum was made by Apple — a major […]
Pyrotek Inc. is scheduled to complete the construction of a new manufacturing facility the Jebel Ali Free Zone in western Dubai, United Arab Emirates in November. The facility is designed to enable the company to serve and supply the rapidly growing aluminum smelting operations of the Gulf region. “This plant will grow our footprint in […]
Elysis, the joint venture between Rio Tinto and Alcoa, marked the start of construction on its Research and Development Center in Saguenay, Canada, where the company will develop and commercialize its inert-anode smelting technology — which is said to be able to eliminate all direct greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) from the aluminum smelting process. Representatives […]
Trimet Aluminium SE began trial operation of its “virtual battery,” a technology aimed at making the energy intensive smelting process more flexible. The aluminum electrolysis process has traditionally required a constant supply of energy to remain stable, but this new approach allows for variations in energy input and more control over the smelting process. “We […]
Researchers from Siberian Federal University (SibFU) together with scientists from Siberian State Aerospace University, both in Russia, presented a new method for automatic composition analysis of samples from the electrolytic bath in potcells. This technology will provide for more accurate technological control and increase the efficiency of aluminum production. To improve the technological properties of the […]
US10151039 — SYSTEMS AND METHODS OF PROTECTING ELECTROLYSIS CELL SIDEWALLS — Alcoa USA Corp. (USA) — A system is provided including an electrolysis cell configured to retain a molten electrolyte bath, the bath including at least one bath component, the electrolysis cell including: a bottom, and a sidewall consisting essentially of the at least one […]
