Patent ID: 6086655
Filing Date: 2000-07-11
Classification: C22B,Y02P

Abstract:
A thermo-mechanical process for producing aluminium or other metals from aluminium or other metal compounds, the process comprising:contacting solids of aluminium oxide or similar aluminium compounds or similar other metal compounds with either free water or water-forming constituents in the aluminum-or other metal compounds and a hydrogen- and carbon delivering material within a process chamber; andheating the aluminium oxide or similar aluminium compounds or similar other metal compounds by friction generated by mechanical forces from a rotating and/or agitating means within the process chamber together with either free water or water-forming constituents in the aluminium- or other metal compounds and the hydrogen- and carbon delivering material in such a manner that the material in the reactor chamber be haves like a hot mechanical fluidized bed whereby the water can be split into hydroxyl and hydrogen free radicals making hydrogen radicals react, with the oxygen in the hot and now unstable aluminium or metal compound and thus releasing aluminium or metal atoms, and the hydroxyl radical reacting back to water and if carbon is used, the surplus of oxygen reacting with carbon to CO or CO.sub.2.