Aluminum recovery process

摘要

Disclosed are processes and electrolytic cells that can be used to extract and thereby recover aluminum from aluminum-containing waste, including an aluminum dross that is suitable for disposal in a land-fill. The disclosed processes and cells use ionic liquids as an electrolyte.

主权项

1. A process for recovering aluminum metal from an aluminum-comprising dross, the process comprising:
a) providing the dross, wherein the dross is formed from a reaction of liquid aluminum metal with air and is skimmed from the aluminum metal; b) providing an electrolytic cell having at least one anode comprising the aluminum-comprising dross, at least one cathode, and an electrolyte, wherein the electrolyte comprises an ionic liquid and one or more carrier salt that comprises aluminum ion, wherein the ionic liquid comprises an imidazolium cation; and c) applying an electrical potential between the anode and cathode such that aluminum metal is deposited on the cathode surface.