Abstract: A refractory coating is provided for a component of an electrolytic cell for the production of aluminum in which an aqueous slurry is prepared comprising particulate refractory material, e.g. TiB2, dispersed in an aluminum oxalate complex. The slurry is applied as a coating to the surface of the component, e.g. a cathode block, and dried to form a hard refractory surface on the component. The aluminum oxalate complex may be formed in situ during production of the slurry by mixing together oxalic acid and electrostatic precipitator dust comprising aluminum oxide. After the refractory coated component is immersed in a high temperature cryolite bath of an aluminum electrolysis cell, the aluminum oxalate complex is converted to alumina which bonds the refractory particles to the surface of the cell component.

Abstract: A process for producing strong, essentially dust-free agglomerates from dust created by an industrial operation carried out, for example, on an ore or mineral, e.g. during the thermal conversion of a material containing predominantly gibbsite to sub-alpha alumina by a multistage thermal process having at least one intermediate stage. The process comprises grinding particles of binder material containing undercalcined alumina to a median particle size of less than 30 microns and to a specific surface area in the range of 90-300 m.sup.2 /g; combining about 1-4 parts by weight of the dust with one part by weight of the ground binder material to form combined solids; mixing the combined solids with water to produce agglomerates, the total amount of added water being about 0.8-1.2 parts by weight for every part by weight of the ground binder material, plus about 0.08 to 0.

Abstract: A process for producing agglomerates from dust (especially electrostatic precipitator dust) collected from a process involving the thermal conversion of a material containing gibbsite to sub-alpha alumina and alpha alumina, and the agglomerates so formed. The process involves binding the dust particles together using water and undercalcined alumina taken from an intermediate stage of the same thermal conversion that originally produces the dust. The added undercalcined alumina is ground, in order to create fresh surfaces, to a median particle size of less than 30 microns and a specific surface area of about 130 to 300 m.sup.2 /g. About 1-4 parts by weight of the dust are mixed with every part by weight of the ground undercalcined alumina. A special procedure is employed for mixing the solids and water which makes use of intensive mixing.

Abstract: In a process for biodegrading under highly alkaline conditions organics in a waste stream derived from a Bayer processing system for producing aluminum oxides,i) the waste stream being typical of oxalate waste streams resulting from alkaline treatment of bauxite, the oxalate waste streams being rich in oxalates, formates, acetates, benzoates and sodium ions and having a pH in excess of 8,ii) treating the highly alkaline waste stream to neutralize and thereby lower pH and to reduce sodium ion concentration prior to introducing the waste stream into a bioreactor,iii) biodegrading the oxalates in the bioreactor by use of Pseudomonas genus microorganisms, andiv) discharging at least a portion of the biodegraded waste stream, the improvement being characterized by:a) introducing the highly alkaline waste stream rich in sodium ions to the bioreactor to avoid the treatment of step ii),b) biodegrading the organics in the waste stream with the Pseudomonas genus microorganisms characterized by ATCC 53883 deposited micr

Abstract: A process for producing oxalic acid, sodium oxalate or mixtures thereof comprises treating crude sodium oxalate solids or slurry, such as produced by the Bayer process in treating bauxite. The crude sodium oxalate solids or slurry include at least aluminum metal ions as well as other metal ions common to the Bayer process.

Abstract: A process is described for removing dissolved silica from process solutions or slurries formed in the Bayer process for producing alumina from bauxite. In the novel process, a Bayer process solution or slurry is contacted with porous agglomerates of a material containing Bayer process desilication product and bonded together by a polymer resin which is resistant to chemical degradation by high concentrations of caustic present in Bayer process liquors. The desilication product is essentially complex hydrated sodium aluminum silicates and typical bonding resins are polyvinylchloride or polypropylene.