Caustic Extraction of Alumina and Soda from Dawsonite-Bearing Oil Shale

摘要

The Bureau of Mines investigated the caustic extraction of alumina and soda from retorted dawsonite-bearing oil shale, as part of a program to devise technology for treating alternative domestic sources of alumina for the production of aluminum metal. Colorado oil shale yielding 13 pct oil (35 gal/ton) and containing 12 wt-pct dawsonite (representing about 4 pct extractable alumina) was retorted to obtain oil-free (spent) shale. Spent shale was leached with dilute NaOH to determine the effect of particle size, retorting temperature, leaching variables, and storage conditions on extraction of alumina and soda and dissolution of impurities.