what is the extraction process for aluminium
Extraction of aluminium. Aluminium is the most abundant metal on Earth. Despite this, it is expensive, largely because of the amount of electricity used up in the extraction process. Aluminium ore is called bauxite.The bauxite is purified to yield a white powder, aluminium oxide, from which aluminium can be extracted.The extraction is done by electrolysis. But first the aluminium oxide must be made molten so that electricity can pass through it.nstead, it is dissolved in molten cryolite, an aluminium compound with a lower melting point than aluminium oxide. The use of cryolite reduces some of the energy costs involved in extracting aluminium. Diagram showing cell for aluminium extraction. The diagram shows an aluminium oxide electrolysis tank.