The Hall-Heroult Process for Electrowinning Aluminum

Aluminum metal can be produced either from bauxite ore or from recychng aluminum scrap. Electrowinning of aluminum ore is sufficiently expensive that the secondary production industry commands much of the market. Electrowinning aluminum from alumina is a highly energy-intensive process, which is why the world s major primary aluminum smelters are located in areas that have access to low-cost energy and abundant power resources (e.g., hydroelectric, natural gas, coal or nuclear), while secondary producers tend to be located near industrial centers, where aluminum scrap is largely available. 

Hall-Heroult in North America and Heroult-Hall in France. 

World annual production of aluminum was 24 million tonnes in 2003 and the world s leading aluminum producers are, in decreasing order of production capacity, Alcoa, Alcan/ Pechiney, Rusal, Norsk Hydro, and Chaleo. 

---