Patent ID: 7867373
Filing Date: 2011-01-11
Classification: C22B,C25C

Abstract:
1. Method for the continuous production of aluminum from alumina, the method comprising: a first step of converting alumina (Al a second step of separation of aluminum from aluminum sulfide in a separating reactor comprising an electrolysis cell, wherein the second step is performed in the electrolysis cell, wherein in the first step in the bubble column alumina is dissolved in a molten salt to form a melt and a sulfur containing gas is fed through the melt, wherein the sulfur containing gas acts as a reagent to convert at least part of the alumina into aluminum sulfide and at least part of the melt is used in the second step, wherein the melt with the dissolved alumina and the aluminum sulfide is continuously recirculated between the first and the second process step, and wherein the first step and the second step are performed in a reactor vessel operating as a single reactor, the melt produced by the first step from the bubble column is fed to the electrolysis cell through a first connecting duct between a top portion of the bubble column and a top portion of the electrolysis cell, and the melt with the dissolved alumina and the aluminum sulfide is recirculated from the electrolysis cell to the bubble column through a second connecting duct between a lower portion of the bubble column and a lower portion of the electrolysis cell, and wherein bubbles rising in the bubble column lift molten salt with aluminum sulfide dissolved therein to transport at least part of the aluminum sulfide containing molten salt to the separating reactor.