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Prospects for Carbochlorination in Aluminum Recovery from Italian Leucitites

  • Extractive & Process Metallurgy
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Summary

The strategic interest in the exploitation of non-bauxite ores in Italy for aluminum production by non-conventional processes is discussed. This research has resulted from a large number of recent investigations of alternative raw materials and processes as well as an understanding of the vital importance of aluminum metal and the dependency of most developed countries on foreign sources for bauxite ores. The large Italian deposits of leucititic materials are examined in relation to various production processes. Among these processes the carbochlorination-chloride electrolysis route appears to be comparable to the conventional Bayer and Hall-Héroult processes for bauxite with regard to overall energy and materials requirement.

Much research work, however, appears to be necessary for the industrial development of a chlorinating metallurgy of general use for extractive processing of polymetallic oxide materials such as aluminous ores.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Metallurgy, University of Rome, Via Eudossiana, 18,000184, Rome, Italy

    Giuseppe Bombara (Industrial Consultant, Materials Policy and Engineering, Research Associate)

  2. Centro Ricerche Veneto (SAMIM), Porto Marghera, Venice, Italy

    Rocco Tanzi (Research Worker)

Authors
  1. Giuseppe Bombara
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  2. Rocco Tanzi
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After receiving his degree in industrial engineering from the University of Rome, Dr. Bombara joined first ENI Research Laboratories where he conducted research on applied electrochemistry and materials technology for 15 years and then FINSIDER Reserch Center (Centro Sperimentale Metallurgico) where he headed R&D on new ferrous and composite materials and electrochemical processes for eight years. Since 1974 he has contributed to research on innovative metallurgies and materials at the Institute of Metallurgy of the University of Rome.

Dr. Tanzi received his degree in industrial chemistry from the University of Rome. He collaborated for a few years with a profeSSional group (AMET) in R&D on advanced metallurgical processes conducting theoretical studies and pilot-scale experiments on the extractive chlorination of polysulfide and silicate ores. He then joined SAMIM Company as assistant to strategic research planning. At present, he is working at Centro Ricerche Veneto as research assistant on chlorinating metallurgy and selective membrane engineering.

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Bombara, G., Tanzi, R. Prospects for Carbochlorination in Aluminum Recovery from Italian Leucitites. JOM 36, 74–78 (1984). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF03339919

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