aluminum production

Aluminum production primarily involves extracting aluminum from its ore, bauxite. The process begins with refining bauxite into alumina through the Bayer process, which uses heat and caustic soda to separate aluminum oxide from impurities. Next, in the Hall-Héroult process, alumina is subjected to electrolysis in molten cryolite, where an electric current separates aluminum metal from oxygen. This molten aluminum is then cast into various forms for further use. The entire process is energy-intensive but essential for producing lightweight, corrosion-resistant aluminum used in countless applications, from packaging to transportation and construction.