Aluminum Production

From Mine to Metal

How Bruker´s analytical technology helps to meet production targets, insures quality and safes costs in the aluminum industries.

X-ray fluorescence

XRF provides chemical analysis for materials characterization, grade and process control. XRF is routinely used not only during exploration and exploitation in the mining process but also during alumina production, in the electrolysis, and finally in metals characterization. Typically analyzed materials comprise bauxite; alumina and red mud; additives to the electrolysis such as cryolite, CaF₂, AlF₃, MgF₂, or LiF; the bath electrolyte itself; cast aluminum and its alloys. Furthermore, refractory materials, raw material for anode production and the anode coals are investigated with XRF.

Optical emission spectroscopy

OES is another chemical analysis technology. OES simultaneously measures a wide range of elements. It is used in metals and alloys characterization. A particular strength is its sensitivity to light elements. Thus, it perfectly complements and backs-up XRF.

X-ray diffraction

XRD directly measures the mineralogy. Knowing about minerals' impurities such as clay or iron ore in bauxite is the key to beneficiation in the alumina refinery and thus reduces residues. In the smelter XRD measures the mineralogy of the congealed electrolyte. Control parameters are derived that are essential for managing the operation of the smelter cells. Furthermore, the anode quality is monitored by XRD.