The Bayer Method

The Bayer method is a chemical process used to extract aluminum from its ore, bauxite. It involves treating bauxite with sodium hydroxide under high pressure and temperature, which dissolves aluminum oxide into a solution called sodium aluminate. Impurities are removed, and then the solution is cooled, allowing aluminum hydroxide to crystallize out. This solid is filtered, heated (calcined), and transformed into pure aluminum metal. The Bayer process is efficient and widely used because it produces a high yield of aluminum from bauxite ore in an environmentally manageable way.