R&D Efforts of CSIR-IMMT Toward Solving Some Issues Related to Aluminum Production

Abstract

Due to the rapid increase in aluminum production from high-grade bauxite ores, such reserves are fast depleting. Determining cost-effective processes for the treatment of low-grade bauxitic ores, utilization of different wastes and byproducts of aluminum industries, and improvement in the extraction process steps are some of the pertinent issues. Red mud, i.e., bauxite residue, is a serious threat to the environment that needs serious attention for its end use. Another issue is the effective utilization of fly ash generated in the captive power plant. This presentation covers some of the R&D efforts made by CSIR-IMMT such as (1) bauxite beneficiation process to remove reactive silica and iron minerals, (2) recovery of Al2O3 and other value-added products from fly ash, (3) utilization of bauxite residue to manufacture of bricks, (4) producing boehmite and gibbsite from Bayer's liquor by means of organic additives, and (5) producing value-added Al-based chemicals from Al dross.