Making aluminum with green hydrogen
Metals and mining company, Rio Tinto, and Japan’s Sumitomo Chemical announced plans to build a $111 million hydrogen-based calcination pilot plant at Rio Tinto’s aluminum production site in Gladstone, Australia.
The basics. Aluminum is produced by processing bauxite ore into alumina with the Bayer process. The last step in the Bayer process — calcination — is a particularly energy-intensive one: aluminum hydroxide is dehydrated to alumina by heating it to temperatures near 1,100°C.
Where hydrogen enters the scene. The heat required for that last step is typically provided by burning natural gas. Rio Tinto and Sumitomo want to burn hydrogen instead; they are planning to produce that hydrogen via water electrolysis (instead of using hydrogen produced from the steam reforming of natural gas), and they want to get started next year.
Bigger picture. Making hydrogen via water electrolysis tends to spark debate when it comes to cost and ability to scale. Because this hydrogen is intended for a fuel application, it will certainly produce lower emissions than burning fossil fuels, but such applications are still hotly debated...
Would you like to access the complete CEP Article?
No problem. You just have to complete the following steps.
You have completed 0 of 2 steps.
-
Log in
You must be logged in to view this content. Log in now.
-
AIChE Membership
You must be an AIChE member to view this article. Join now.
Copyright Permissions
Would you like to reuse content from CEP Magazine? It’s easy to request permission to reuse content. Simply click here to connect instantly to licensing services, where you can choose from a list of options regarding how you would like to reuse the desired content and complete the transaction.