ALUMINIUM

Aluminium ore mining, the cleaning and the production of aluminium by electrolysis are processes which caused air and water pollution, and damage to vegetation in the past. Years of experience and the introduction of substantial technological innovations over the past 40 years allow for an environmentally friendly way of producing this important material. The recultivation of former mining areas, the solution for problems with red mud thanks to a special form of landfills available for recultivation, a significant reduction in energy expenditure during electrolysis, predominant use of renewable hydropower for generating electricity, encapsulated electrolysis installations equipped with highly effective gas- and particle filters, innovative electrodes, high recycling rates and extensive recirculation of waste material accumulating during remelting – thanks to all those measures, aluminium can be produced in an environmentally sustainable way and according to high environmental standards.

The initial production of aluminium from bauxite requires energy for mining, processing of ores, and for electrolysis processes. However, this one-time energy expenditure remains stored in the metal. After the operating life of an aluminium product has ended the latter can be smelt and cast again without diminishing the material's quality. The metallurgical properties of aluminium therefore allow near-complete recycling of the metal with a recovery rate of 95-99%. Extracting aluminium by remelting scrap results in energy savings of up to 95% compared to its production from aluminium oxide. [5] Therefore, aluminium scrap represents a valuable raw material for production. In 1995 for example, 42% of the FRG's aluminium were produced from remelted aluminium and 58% were produced in electrolysis installations. [6] In Austria electrolysis is not used for extracting aluminium. However, approximately 130,000 tons of secondary aluminium are currently retained in facilities in Austria.[7]   CITATIONS [5] Weber R., op. cit., p. 89. [6] Kammer C., op. cit., p. 8 [7] Aluminium Initiative Austria, op. cit.

Aluminium is the most abundant metal in the earth's crust and is therefore almost infinitely available. Approximately 20 million tons of aluminium are extracted from bauxite ores per year worldwide. Naturally the mining of raw materials requires surfaces and energy is used for the extraction of metal. For years aluminium production has been carried out in an increasingly ecologically sustainable way by making use of the most modern technologies. Combined with the special qualities of a weather resistant light metal, aluminium is a material that meets the various challenges of our time.