Why the most abundant metal on Earth is so expensive to produce
In short: Despite its prevalence, aluminium requires massive amounts of energy to extract. This video explains the industrial electrolysis process used to turn bauxite ore into pure metal.
To extract aluminium, bauxite ore is first purified into aluminium oxide. Because aluminium oxide has a melting point exceeding 2000 degrees Celsius, it is instead dissolved in molten cryolite. This compound has a much lower melting point, significantly reducing the energy costs of the process.
During electrolysis, electricity flows through the molten mixture. Aluminium ions form at the negative cathode and are tapped off as liquid metal, while oxygen forms at the positive graphite anodes. This oxygen reacts with the carbon in the anodes to create carbon dioxide, causing the anodes to burn away and requiring regular replacement.
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: How To Extract Aluminium By Electrolysis | Environmental Chemistry | Chemistry | FuseSchool
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