Novel multi-stage aluminium production: part 1 - thermodynamic assessment of carbosulphidation of Al2O3/bauxite using H2S and sodiothermic reduction of Al2S3
RIS ID
129655
Abstract
A novel multi-stage Al production through a carbosulphidation of Al2O3, followed by a sodiothermic reduction of Al2S3, was proposed. In Stage-1, alumina (or bauxite) is reduced to Al2S3 in the presence of carbon and H2S. In Stage-2, Al2S3 is reduced to Al through reactions with Na or NaH. The thermodynamic analysis predicted Al2S3 to be the main intermediate Alcompound when H2S is reacted with Al2S3 and C at 1000-2000°C at 1 atm. Al2S3 formation was predicted to be low at 1100-1300°C at 1 atm (0.1 moles/mole Al2O3) but increased with increasing temperature (0.96 moles/mole Al2O3 at 1800°C). The thermodynamic analysis of sodiothermic reduction predicted that Al metal can be extracted from Al2S3 below 800°C at 1 atm. The Na2S produced can be hydrolysed to form H2S and NaOH. H2S can be re-used and the Na can be reproduced from NaOH and put back into the process.
Publication Details
Rhamdhani, M. A., Huda, N., Khaliq, A., Brooks, G. A., Monaghan, B. J., Sheppard, D. A. & Prentice, L. (2018). Novel multi-stage aluminium production: part 1 - thermodynamic assessment of carbosulphidation of Al2O3/bauxite using H2S and sodiothermic reduction of Al2S3. Transactions of the Institutions of Mining and Metallurgy, Section C: Mineral Processing and Extractive Metallurgy, 127 (2), 91-102.