Interaction | Reaction | Process     Data Page

Bauxite is mined and purified (removing iron oxide etc. impurities) to give a high quality grade of aluminium oxide which can be used for conversion into metallic aluminium.

The purification process – called "benefaction" – involves (1) dissolving the aluminium component of bauxite ore in sodium hydroxide (2) removing insoluble impurities from the solution by filtration (3) precipitating aluminium hydroxide (alumina trihydrate) and finally (4) calcinating to aluminium oxide.

Al2O3.2H2O
(+Fe, Ti oxides)
         
Al2O3
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Bauxite     Reactions Using    Reactions Forming
Aluminium oxide     Reactions Using    Reactions Forming

Interaction, Reaction, Process defined as:
British A-Level Chemistry: AS
Calcination
Dissolution: With Ionisation
Precipitation

© Mark R. Leach 1999 –

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