At these temperatures, the aluminium is dissolved as sodium aluminate (the Bayer process). The aluminium compounds in the bauxite may be present as gibbsite(Al(OH)3), boehmite(AlOOH) or diaspore(AlOOH); the different forms of the aluminium component will dictate the extraction conditions. The undissolved waste, bauxite tailings, after the aluminium compounds are extracted contains iron oxides, silica, calcia, titania and some un-reacted alumina.
At these temperatures, aluminum is dissolved as sodium aluminate (the Bayer process). The aluminum compounds in bauxite may be present as gibbsite(Al(OH)3), boehmite(AlOOH) or diaspore(AlOOH); the different forms of the aluminum component dictate the extraction conditions. The undissolved waste, bauxite tailings, after the aluminum compounds are extracted contains iron oxides, silica, calcia, titania and some unreacted alumina.