RECOVERING ALUMINIUM METAL FROM DROSS OR SCRAP BY HEAT TREATMENT USING A PLASMA TORCH

摘要

A process for recovering free aluminium and aluminium compounds such as aluminium oxide from aluminium dross and aluminium scrap in a furnace heated with a plasma arc torch (10) followed by oxygen injection after significant aluminium separation has occurred is described. The injected oxygen reacts with aluminium nitrides and unrecoverable aluminium in the dross to provide processing energy. High aluminium recovery is obtained with greatly reduced cycle times at lower overall operating costs.