Abstract: A process is described for purifying an oil-containing liquid to remove aqueous and solid impurities which comprises passing said liquid through a permeable inorganic membrane previously treated by contacting the membrane with an organic reactant selected from the group consisting of a phosphonic acid, a phosphinic acid, a monocarboxylic acid, a dicarboxylic acid, a boronic acid, a phosphoric acid ester and a precursor which decomposes upon contact with said inorganic membrane to form one of said organic reactants whereby the treated membrane is capable of separating aqueous and solid impurities from hydrocarbons in the oil-containing liquid.

Abstract: A process for producing aluminum in which alumina is decomposed electrolytically to aluminum metal in an electrolyte bath between an anode and a cathodic interface formed between aluminum metal and the electrolyte bath. The bath consists essentially of Al.sub.2 O.sub.3, NaF, and AlF.sub.3, and has a weight ratio NaF to AlF.sub.3 up to 1.1:1. During decomposition, the bath is maintained at an operating temperature greater than 40.degree.C above the cryolite liquidus temperature of the bath and effective for preventing bath crusting in interfacial areas between bath and aluminum metal.