How do we process aluminum?

Aluminum processing involves several key steps: extraction from bauxite ore, refining, and fabrication. Initially, bauxite is mined and then processed to remove impurities. The Bayer process is commonly used to extract alumina (aluminum oxide) from bauxite by dissolving it in a caustic soda solution. The alumina is then smelted in a reduction furnace using the Hall-H茅roult process, where it is dissolved in molten cryolite and electrolyzed to produce pure aluminum. Finally, the aluminum is shaped and fabricated into various products through methods such as casting, extrusion, or rolling.