The Transformation of Bauxite to Aluminum (and the Products in Between)
In a process known as digestion, after any silica has been removed, the remaining bauxite ore is combined with a hot caustic soda material in a heated pressure vessel in order to dissolve the aluminumbearing minerals, yielding a sodium aluminate solution: Al2O3 + 2 NaOH > 2 NaAlO2 + H2O