ALUMINUM PLASMA DROSS TREATMENT PROCESS AND CALCIUM ALUMINATE PRODUCTION: CLOSING THE LOOP WITH NO RESIDUE

摘要

The total recycling of all the constituents present in aluminum dross is now an industrial reality for Alcan. This is made possible by the combination of two patented processes: the Alcan plasma dross treatment process, operating since 1990 at its Guillaume-Tremblay Works, and the calcium aluminate fabrication process, operating at AlumiCa's new plant in Thetford Mines. The latter process uses the total non-metallic content of the dross, thus rendering possible the complete recycling of aluminum dross. After describing the plasma dross treatment process, this paper will present the calcium aluminate fabrication process and how both processes contribute to close the recycling loop. The characteristics of Noval~(TM) by-product will also be described, as well as how they contribute to make a calcium aluminate with chemical and physical properties that are highly sought after. This calcium aluminate, produced by AlumiCa, is marketed under the trade name Kwikflux~ò. AlumiCa's total production is presently sold to a number of steel plants worldwide.