Inert and reactive gases are employed in molten aluminum processing to serve several needs: removal of magnesium, degassing, alkali metal removal, and inclusion flotation. Growing environmental concern and the necessity to develop and manage melt treatment processes for better efficiency have dictated continuing improvements in process technology. This paper focuses on the gas injection pump and its utilization for metallurgical refining. In particular, recent advances have been made in discharge and nozzle configuration, and injection technique to achieve increased gas/metal mixing efficiency, which has resulted in higher productivity coupled with environmental acceptability. Laboratory test and field performance test data will be presented, especially as it pertains to scrap melting/metal recycling systems, where gas injection greatly improves process efficiency, metal recovery, and molten metal quality.
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