Abstract: The invention relates to the recovering of free metal entrained in dross or skimmings obtained from melts of aluminum and aluminum based alloys wherein the dross has been partially prepared by prior art preparation processes. The invention is directed to the cleaning and preparation of the dross by the more effective removal of substantial portions of the oxide coatings on the dross. This results in the recovery of a significantly higher proportion of the free metal contained in the dross than is recovered using prior art cleaning and recovery processes. The dross, as partially processed by prior art methods, is sequentially fed through selected mechanical rolling and milling stages so as to separate aluminum oxide dust and aluminum concentrates from one another. The aluminum concentrates may be utilized in conventional furnace recovery methods to produce aluminum ingot or may be further processed through selected stages to produce high quality aluminum pellets.

Abstract: The invention relates to the recovering of free metal entrained in dross or skimmings obtained from melts of aluminum and aluminum based alloys wherein the dross zhas been partially prepared by prior art preparation processes. The invention is directed to the cleaning and preparation of the dross by the more effective removal of substantial portions of the oxide coatings on the dross. This results in the recovery of a significantly higher proportion of the free metal contained in the dross than is recovered using prior art cleaning and recovery processes. The dross, as partially processed by prior art methods, is sequentially fed through selected mechanical rolling and milling stages so as to separate aluminum oxide dust and aluminum concentrates from one another. The aluminum concentrates may be utilized in conventional furnace recovery methods to produce aluminum ingot or may be further processed through selected stages to produce high quality aluminum pellets.