China finds great potential in coal ash stockpiles for alumina extraction

There is great potential to extract alumina from coal ash in China, as the country boasts the world’s top generator of the material.

China is expected to produce 620 million tonnes of coal ash, a byproduct of thermal power generation, in 2015, making it the world’s top producer, said Cui Yuansheng, professor at the Institute of Technical Information for Building Materials Industry as saying.

Stockpiles of alumina-rich coal ash in central and west Inner Mongolia, north Shanxi, among other regions, have exceeded 100 million tonnes, and are growing at about 25 million tonne pace every year. The coal ash contains 40-50% of alumina, offering huge potential for extraction.

However, technical bottleneck exists that needs to be broken. For example, consuming 1 tonne of coal ash could generate 6-7 tonnes of slag, which is harmful to the environment.

Copyright and Exemption Declaration :¢ÙAll articles, pictures and videos that are marked with "China Aluminum Network" on this website are copyright and belong to China Aluminium Network (www.alu.com.cn). When transshipment, any media, website or individual must list the source from "China Aluminium Network (www.alu.com.cn)". We seek legal actions against anyone that disobey this. ¢ÚArticles that marked as copy from others are for transferring more information to readers, do not represent or endorse their opinions or accuracy and reliability. When other media, website or individuals copy from our website, must keep the source. Anyone that changes the articles' sources will hold the responsibilities for copyright and law problems. We also seek legal actions against anyone that disobey this. ¢ÛIf any articles copied by our website concern the copyright and other problems, please contact us within one week.