In the previous post, I reported on the incremental progress in the development of fly ash as a source of alumina in several Chinese refineries.

Reader and former work colleague Gordon sent me an email on the weekend to let me know that in fact Alcan had been experimenting with fly ash as far back as the 1970’s. Gordon couldn’t remember why the project finally died.

I have been searching online, and find references to laboratory trials and projects going back to the 1960’s. In fact there is a wide range of literature detailing various programs and their outcomes all the way from the 60’s to the previous decade. In 2001, Alcan got into a spot of bother at its Lynemouth plant when local residents objected to a plan to mine and process fly ash. Residents were worried that dust generated would affect their lives and health. (They need not have worried - the smelter closed about 10 years later, thanks to depressed aluminium prices.)

The research literature that I have seen seems to suggest that the processes envisaged last century were all too expensive - both the capital costs and the operating costs - and that the waste products were more of a problem than they were worth.

It’s hard to say whether any of this history is known to the Chinese scientists and engineers who are developing fly ash technology in China today. My guess is that it is - there has been a strong presence of Chinese at conferences such as TMS for many years, and the papers are available on the internet. Are the current trials and plants in China a progression from the work done decades ago, or are the Chinese on their own road? I can’t say, but it does suggest that the Chinese progress will take longer than perhaps their bankers would like.

A het tip to Gordon for his email.