Customer impacts of Na2O and CaO in smelter grade alumina

Abstract

Two major impurities in Sm eIter Grade Alumina, SGA, directly impact the bath chemistry of smelting customers. Aluminum tluoride is consumed in great quantities to neutralize the impact of calcium and sodium that enter the process. Consumption solely for the neutralization of excess CaO and Na2O generates surplus bath. The resulting cyrolitic material can then only be consumed by the primary aluminum industry. In this paper the author discusses points of concern trom the perspective of customers with regard to %CaO, %Na2O, and the ratio of between %CaO and %Na2O. Conclusions include the impact that the growth of surplus cryolitic bath will have upon producers of SGA.