What is the manufacturing process of aluminum?

The manufacturing process of aluminum involves several key steps. Initially, bauxite ore, the primary source of aluminum, is mined. The ore is then crushed and washed to remove impurities. Next, the bauxite is processed through the Bayer process, which involves digestion in a caustic soda solution to produce a solution of sodium aluminate. This solution is then seeded with aluminum hydroxide, causing crystals to form, which are then filtered out, washed, and calcined to produce aluminum oxide, also known as alumina. Finally, in the Hall-H茅roult process, alumina is dissolved in a cryolite bath and electrolyzed to extract pure aluminum. This process involves passing an electric current through the bath, causing aluminum ions to be reduced and collected at the cathode as molten aluminum, which is then tapped off and cast into various forms for use in manufacturing.