Engineering Entrance Exams
In aluminium extraction by the Bayer process, alumina is extracted from bauxite by sodium hydroxide at high temperature and
pressures :
Al O (s) 2OH (aq) 2Al O (aq) H O(1) 2
-
32 + ? 22 + -
Solid impurities such as Fe2
O3
and SiO2
are removed and then - A 4 l(OH) is reprecipitated :
2Al(OH) Al .O 3H O(s) 2OH (aq) -
232
-
4 ? + . In the industrial world :
(A) Carbon dioxide is added to precipitate the alumina
(B) Temperature and pressure are dropped and the supersaturated solution seeded
(C) Both (A) and (B) are practised
(D) The water is evaporated