Kinetics of Recovery of Alumina from Aluminium Casting Waste through Fusion with Sodium Hydroxide

U K Sultana¹, Fahmida Gulshan¹, M A Gafur¹ and A S W Kurny^1,

¹Department of Materials and Metallurgical Engineering, Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Cite this paper:
U K Sultana, Fahmida Gulshan, M A Gafur and A S W Kurny. Kinetics of Recovery of Alumina from Aluminium Casting Waste through Fusion with Sodium Hydroxide. American Journal of Materials Engineering and Technology. 2013; 1(3):30-34. doi: 10.12691/materials-1-3-1

Abstract

Aluminium dross containing 72% Al₂O₃ and 14.0% SiO₂ was fused with NaOH for a period of up to 60 minutes in the temperature range of 500 – 750°C in a stainless steel crucible. The fused mass was dissolved in water. Amount of alumina in the solution was determined by EDTA compleximetric (masking and demasking) chemical method. The optimum condition for alumina extraction was determined as NaOH to aluminium dross weight ratio = 3.5, temperature = 750°C and time 60 minutes. Avrami-Erofeev equation [-ln (1-α) = (k3t) m, m = 3/2] seemed to be most appropriate one to fit the kinetic data of fusion of aluminium dross with NaOH. The activation energy was found to be 6.452kJ/mol.

Keywords:
alumina recovery aluminum foundry waste sodium hydroxide fusion reaction mechanism kinetics activation energy

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License. To view a copy of this license, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Figures

References:

[1]	S. Freti, J.D. Bbornand & K. Buxman. “Metallurgy of dross formation on aluminium melts” Light Metal, 1982, AIME, pp. 1003-16.
[2]	Aluminium Company of America. D.L. Stewart et al., Salt based melting process Int C. C25C3/06 US 5.057, 194 Oct.15 1991.
[3]	Christie, P. and Derry, R., Alumina from indigenous U. K. resources, a review of possibilities, Warren Spring Laboratory, Report No. LR (219) ME, 1976.
[4]	Qi-ming Feng, Yun Chen, Yan-hai Shao, Guo-fan Zhang, Le-ming Ou, Yi-ping Lu, “New technique of comprehensive utilization of spent Al2O3-based catalyst”, J. Cent. South Univ. Technol., Vol. 13 No. 2, pp 151-155 April 2006.
[5]	Phillips, C V and Wills, K J, A laboratory study of the extraction of alumina of smelter grade from China clay micaceous residues by a nitric acid route, Hydrometallurgy, Vol. 9, pp 15-28, 1982.
[6]	Bazin C., El-Quassirri K., Uuellet V., “Sequential leaching for the recovery of alumina from a Canadian clay”, Hydrometallurgy, Vol. 88, pp 196-201, 2007.
[7]	Felker K., Seeley F., Egan Z., Kelmers D., “Aluminum from fly ash”, ChemTech, Vol. 12, pp 123, 1982.
[8]	Aglietti E.F., Tavani E.L., Lopez J.M. Porto, “Acid process for the extraction of aluminum from argentine weathered basalts”, Minerals Engineering, Vol. 3, No. ¾, pp 331-343, 1990.
[9]	Aglietti E.F., Tavani E.L., Tedesco P.H., Lopez J.M. Porto, “Alumina extraction from Northeastern Red Soil of Argentina”, Hydrometallurgy, Vol. 17, pp 167-176, 1987.
[10]	Amer, A.M., “Extracting Aluminium from Dross Tailing ”, The Journal of The Minerals, Metals & Materials Society, Volume 54, Number 11, 1 November 2002 , pp. 72-75(4).
[11]	Miskufova A.,Petranikova, Kovacs M., Briancin J., Havlik T., Orac D., “Leaching of Aluminium Dross in Alkaline Solution”, European Metallurgical Conference, Vol. 4, pp. 1-11, June 28-July 1, 2009, Innsbruck, Austria.
[12]	Martin Beaulieu, Stephane Chabot, Yves Charest, Ancienne-Lorette, Jean-Francois Savard, “Processes for Treating Aluminium Dross Residues”, United States Patent 2008/0159935 A1, Publication Jul. 3,2008.
[13]	Lucheva B., Tsonev Ts., Petkov R. “Non-waste aluminum recycling”, Journal of the University of Chemical Technology and Metallurgy, 40, 4, 2005, 335-338.
[14]	Park, Hyung-Kyu, Lee, Hoo-In, Yoon, Eui-Pak.: Process for recycling waste aluminum dross, United States Patent 6296817, Publication 10/02/2001
[15]	Seidel A., Sluszny A., Shelef G., Zimmels Y., “Self inhibition of aluminum leaching from coal fly ash by sulfuric acid [J]”. Chemical Engineering Journal, 1999, 72: 195-207.