The Journey of Aluminum: From Red Rock to Can
In short: Bauxite, a reddish-brown ore, is chemically refined into alumina using the Bayer process, then smelted into molten aluminum via the Hall-Héroult process. The metal is formed into cans through precise mechanical steps, completing a cycle where recycling saves up to 95% of the energy required for primary production.
A 1:44 short film in the series “Journey of a Thing”, narrated by intellect_voice_01.
Sources used in this film: International Aluminium Institute, “As well as aluminium recycling, saving 95% of the energy needed for primary aluminium production, the recycling process saves a similar percentage in greenhouse gas emissions - International Aluminium Institute”; Journal of Mining and Environment (Shahrood University of Technology), “Modelling and optimization of digestion efficiency of bauxite in Bayer process: Iran Alumina company”; The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME), “The Comeback of the Aluminum Can, Part 2”; Waste Managed, “Aluminium Recycling Guide | Waste Managed”; Arkansas Geological Survey (Office of the State Geologist), “Bauxite”; Britannica, “Bauxite | Mining, Refining, Alumina | Britannica”.
Sources used in this film
- International Aluminium Institute — As well as aluminium recycling, saving 95% of the energy needed for primary aluminium production, the recycling process saves a similar percentage in greenhouse gas emissions - International Aluminium Institute · View →
- Journal of Mining and Environment (Shahrood University of Technology) — Modelling and optimization of digestion efficiency of bauxite in Bayer process: Iran Alumina company · View →
- The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) — The Comeback of the Aluminum Can, Part 2 · View →
- Waste Managed — Aluminium Recycling Guide | Waste Managed · View →
- Arkansas Geological Survey (Office of the State Geologist) — Bauxite · View →
- Britannica — Bauxite | Mining, Refining, Alumina | Britannica · View →
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Sources
- Summary by Intellect · source: International Aluminium Institute: As well as aluminium recycling, saving 95% of the energy needed for primary aluminium production, the recycling process saves a similar percentage in greenhouse gas emissions - International Aluminium Institute
- Also: Journal of Mining and Environment (Shahrood University of Technology): Modelling and optimization of digestion efficiency of bauxite in Bayer process: Iran Alumina company
- Also: The American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME): The Comeback of the Aluminum Can, Part 2
- Also: Waste Managed: Aluminium Recycling Guide | Waste Managed
- Also: Arkansas Geological Survey (Office of the State Geologist): Bauxite
- Also: Britannica: Bauxite | Mining, Refining, Alumina | Britannica
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