Abstract: A process for the treatment of ground, spent potlinings generated during the production of metallic aluminum to reduce cyanide content to environmentally nonhazardous levels. Potlinings are ground or otherwise suitably reduced in size to a particle size of not greater than about 2 inches in any dimension and roasted in a stream of air or nitrogen at a temperature between about 500.degree. F. and 1400.degree. F. Roasting for an appropriate time-temperature interval reduces cyanide content to desired levels without combustion of a major portion of carbonaceous material, resulting in an end product rich in carbon and fluorine which may be salable because of this content.

Abstract: A process for the combustion of ground, spent potlinings generated during the production of metallic aluminum is disclosed. The process includes: grinding the potlinings to a particle size of not greater than about 2 inches in any dimension; mixing with the ground potlinings from about 1 to about 20 weight percent, based upon the weight of the potlinings, of a powdered inert additive having a median particle size of not greater than 10 micrometers, and burning the ground potlinings in a combustor at a temperature in the range of from 1400.degree. F. to about 2200.degree. F., the additive coating the ground potlinings and preventing their agglomeration in the combustion zone therein.