APPLICATIONS OF ION CHROMATOGRAPHY AND CAPILLARY ION ELECTROPHORESIS IN THE ALUMINA AND ALUMINUM-INDUSTRY

Applications of ion chromatography and capillary ion electrophoresis (Waters' trade name: Capillary Ion Analysis) for the determination of anionic solutes in the alumina/aluminium industry are presented. The use of ion chromatography for the determination of chloride and sulfate in alumina refinery liquors and for the analysis of fluoride in hydroxide fused samples from aluminium smelting environs is discussed. The results obtained are compared with traditional wet chemical methods of analysis. Capillary ion electrophoresis, a relatively new separation techniqe which has a different selectivity from ion chromatography, permits very rapid quantitation of oxalate in Bayer liquor, and the results from this methodology are compared to those obtained using capillary gas chromatography. The potential for other applications of these techniques in the alumina/aluminium industry will also be discussed.