Rusal has achieved sustainable production of A7 grade aluminum using inert anode technology
This is the most important condition for the transition to the industrial implementation of revolutionary technology. During electrolysis on inert anodes, oxygen is released instead of carbon dioxide and the amount of undesirable impurities in aluminum is significantly reduced.
Photo: "Rusal".
The technology allows stable production of commercial A7 grade metal (Russian GOST, an analogue of the international P1020 grade). The sustainability of the technology is the most important condition for the transition from testing to industrial scaling of a revolutionary technology that completely eliminates the need for carbon anodes and brings aluminum production to previously unattainable standards of environmental friendliness.
Carbon anodes have been one of the cornerstones of the global aluminum industry since its inception in the late 19th century to the present day. The transition to inert anodes allows electrolysis to release 0.9 tons of pure oxygen instead of several tons of greenhouse gases per ton of aluminum, and also significantly reduce the content of undesirable impurities in aluminum that were transferred from coal anodes - heavy metals, silicon.
The high purity of the metal produced by inert anode technology is a serious competitive advantage, said Dmitry Ryabov, Director of Science at the Institute of Light Materials and Technologies.
"Due to its excellent characteristics, such aluminum will be in demand both in foundry alloys, providing ductility and reliability of castings, and in the production of electrical products - from wire rod to foil. The minimum content of heavy metals and silicon makes it possible to reduce the resistivity of the material and improve the quality of the final product."Rusal is working on various scenarios for the industrial implementation of the technology and evaluates the most effective ways to use "green" aluminum in industries that place high demands on the carbon footprint and purity of the metal.