Aluminum is one of our most widely-used metals, found in everything from beer cranes to airplane parts. However, the lightweight metal doesn’t occur naturally, and producing it is a complex process (Govind Bhutada, 2022).
Let’s explore its making from its ore to the actual metal.
Aluminium production starts with its most abundant ore bauxite, a clay like soil type found in a belt around the equator. The bauxite is mined from a few meters below the ground. The bauxite is then transported to plants where the clay is washed off and the bauxite passes through a grinder. Alumina is separated from the bauxite by using a hot solution of caustic soda and lime. The mixture is heated and filtered, and the remaining alumina is dried to a white powder.
The following step involved is the metal plant. Here, the refined alumina is transformed into aluminium. Three different raw materials are needed to make aluminium, aluminium oxide, electricity and carbon.
Electricity is run between a negative cathode and a positive anode, both made of carbon. The anode reacts with the oxygen in the alumina and forms CO2. The result is liquid aluminium, which can now be tapped from the cells (Hydro, n.d.).
What everyday object made of aluminum do you think has the most interesting production process? Let’s hear your guesses!
