Aluminum: electrolysis, smelting or recycling? Aluminum (Al) is a chemical element that is part of the boron group and is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust. Aluminum is the second most widely used metal after steel and is used in construction, packaging, household utensils, sporting goods and in the automotive industry. In 2009, more than 3.4 million tons of aluminum were released into the waste stream in the United States, regardless of recycling efforts. This essay will discuss the different options for producing aluminum, such as electrolysis, smelting, and recycling. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get the original essay Mining aluminum is expensive, mainly because of the electricity consumed by aluminum smelters. Aluminum forms strong chemical bonds with oxygen (aluminum oxide or alumina) and to separate the elements, electricity must pass through it. Alumina is extracted from the ore called bauxite, and the bauxite is purified to produce alumina so that aluminum is extracted. The electrolysis of alumina takes place in carbon-lined steel cells, through which an electric current passes. Aluminum oxide is dissolved in molten cryolite, a compound of aluminum and sodium fluorides (Na3AlF6) with a melting point of approximately 960°C. At the bottom of each pot, the negative electrode (cathode) and positive electrode (anode) are made of graphite, a form of carbon. Inside the pot, the alumina is dissolved in a molten electrolyte and its ions are free to move around. The aluminum ion is reduced: Al3+ + 3 e− → Al, and at the positive electrodes, carbon dioxide is formed: 2 O2− → O2 + 4 e−. Eventually, the carbon anode is eradicated and the positive electrodes must be replaced regularly, which becomes expensive. Aluminum smelting is the process of extracting aluminum from its oxide, generally by the Hall-Héroult process. The Hall-Héroult process involves dissolving alumina in molten cryolite and electrolyzing the molten salt bath, usually in a cell specially designed for this purpose. An aluminum smelter consumes so much electricity that it is usually built near hydroelectric plants. A large amount of carbon is released during the smelting process and, therefore, GHG emissions are common. The Hall-Héroult electrolysis process is the main route for producing primary aluminum. Aluminum mining has both advantages and disadvantages. Aluminum mining consumes about 5% of the electricity produced in the United States. The cost of smelting aluminum and providing the electricity needed for electrolysis is very high, which is why smelting sites are built in areas where electricity is cheap. This is a continuous and efficient process, and the resulting aluminum has a purity of 99.99%. Additionally, the aluminum extraction process also wastes a large amount of fluoride. Unless manufacturers are careful with their waste, hydrogen fluorides are very dangerous because they are toxic to vegetation and the environment. However, most companies are not environmentally friendly because cleaning after extraction is time-consuming and expensive. Aluminum recycling dates back to the early 1900s and is still done today for sources such as airplanes, automobiles, computers, kitchenware, and more. involves a simple metal remelting process that is less expensive and less energy-intensive than producing new.