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Azerbaijani scientists develop innovative method for processing of alunite

Business Materials 11 September 2018 20:48 (UTC +04:00)

Baku, Azerbaijan, Sept. 11

By Huseyn Veliyev - Trend:

Azerbaijani scientists have developed an innovative method of processing alunite for efficient production of aluminum, Chingiz Gashgay, head of the Geology and Geochemistry of Ore Deposits Department of the ANAS Institute of Geology and Geophysics, told Trend Sept. 11.

Gashgay said the use of alunite as a raw material for the aluminum industry is designated as one of the priorities of the government.

"The import of raw materials in the form of bauxite or aluminum oxide is expensive. In this connection, the government decided to switch to local raw materials, that is to alunite,” Gashgay noted.

“However, there are no cheap technologies for alunite processing in the world. Many organizations in the United States, Canada, Russia, Turkey, China and other countries have not been able to bring the processing of alunite to the industrial level due to the fact that the process is very complex and costly,” Gashgay added.

“The processed product itself is cheaper. For example, one ton of aluminum oxide in international market costs from $270 to $450. In order for the processing to be profitable, it is necessary that the costs do not exceed $500, which has not yet been achieved by anyone," Gashgay said.

Azerbaijani scientists, Gashgay said, have managed to develop an innovative technology for processing alunite, which is much cheaper.

"The processing of alunite is based on electrochemistry and membrane technology, which allow to extract both aluminum and other chemical elements from alunite ore. No chemicals are used in the processing. This method can be used directly at the Zaylik Alunite Deposit without the need of transportation of raw materials to Ganja. This, in turn, will prevent environmental pollution," Gashgay said.

The main problem in development and application of this technology, Gashgay said, is the lack of funding, and finding an investor is not an easy task; the same holds true for patenting this technology.

"We held a number of meetings with heads of aluminum plants, who expressed their interest. Despite that the technology was recognized on their part as the only cost-effective technology, the project received funding from well-known entrepreneur Rza Veziri," Gashgay said.

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Follow the author on Twitter: @h_veliyev

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