Aluminum process materials inputs

Process Materials Inputs/Pollution Outputs for Aluminum ... 

The material inputs and pollution outputs resulting from primary and secondary aluminum processing are presented in Table 3.4. 

In 1972, The Aluminum Company of America (Alcoa) announced a large-scale project to develop a commercial electrolytic aluminum chloride process [256], Based on extensive laboratory studies, a demonstration plant (15,000 tons per year) was built and operated for several years. Alcoa used commercial grade low calcined alumina as input material for the chlorination step, where it was reacted with chlorine and carbon to form gaseous A1C13 and C02 and CO. The... 

Renewable rather than depleting Material and energy inputs should be from renewable resources to the maximum extent possible. Clearly, material and energy resources that are consumed at a rate that exceeds the ability of the natural environment to replenish that resource will eventually be fully depleted and not available for future use. Thus, processes and products should be designed to consume raw materials only at the rate at which they can be replenished. Because materials can be recycled, net consumption is the important parameter to be considered. In other words, aluminum that is obtained from recycled material does not deplete the raw material in the ground and thus may be considered renewable if there is sufficient recycled aluminum to fully meet the process needs. 

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