ION CHROMATOGRAPHY IN THE ALUMINA & ALUMINIUM INDUSTRIES
Bowser, T. and Grocott. S.C.
Ion chromatography is an advancing analytical technique finding place in production management, process control and environmental monitoring for the alumina/aluminium industry.
This paper presents new analysis methods and their impact on the industry. Comparative advantages with established technologies are discussed.
For alumina manufacture, specific methods for monitoring fluoride, chloride, oxalate, succinate and silicate are compared with the traditional wet chemical and spectroscopic techniques.
New technology for environmental fluoride analysis for aluminium smelters is available. The method is applicable to the analysis of fluoride in water, soil and vegetation.
Ion chromatography is providing utility in environmental monitoring for both industries. Methods are available for evaluating fluoride, chloride, sulphate, cyanide and for measurement of boiler water purity.
Hardware requirements are outlined in brief. The potential of two new technologies, Ion Chromatography - Pulsed Amperometric Detection and Inorganic Capillary Electrophoresis are discussed.