Studies on process for conversion of waste aluminium dross into value added products

Abstract

Aluminium dross is a hazaurdous waste generated during melting processes. India generates more than 100 thousand tons dross annually. The paper describes the development of process, optimization of parameters, and characterization of value added products extracted from waste dross. In the process, fusion temperature and time was studied for better efficiency between 850–1000°C and time for 1–2 hours, optimum temperature was obtained to be 950°C with 97% recovery. The purity of alumina was achieved to be 99.6% in the precipitation process, alum with low soluble iron 0.35% and more >15% alumina and poly aluminium chloride with 10.2% Al₂O₃ have extracted from waste dross. The physicochemical characterization was done using XRD, SEM, Flame photometer, ICP-AES and classical wet chemical methods.