DETOXIFICATION OF SPENT HALL CELL POTLINING

Cyanide forms in the lining of aluminum production cells due to the reaction ofcarbon, sodium and nitrogen. It is proposed it mix spent potling, a solid andhazardous waste, withmoderate temperatures to form environmentally benign compounds. The envisionedprocess will be suited for the in-situ treatment of potlining at individualsmelters and aims at converting this hazardous material into a useful product,or at least into a waste that can be landfilled an nonhazardous material.Laboratory experiments are planned with samples produced in the laboratory andother obtained from industrial cells. Major Phase I goals are to demonstrate thecompleteness of the reaction and to identify most economical process conditions.