Management of the salt cake from secondary aluminum fusion processes

This work describes the current situation of the production of primary and secondary aluminum. Due to the economic importance of secondary aluminum production, the process of obtaining it has been summarized, specially highlighting the generation and management of salt cake. The reassessment of this new waste is not economically viable; the best option is the minimization of its production, recovery of the metal aluminum, and disposal of the remaining fraction in controlled landfills. The process carried out at the Iberian business of light alloys (Iberica de Aleaciones Ligeras, S. L., IDALSA), a Spanish refinery, is presented. This company has implemented several new technologies in order to minimize the salt cake generation from secondary aluminum fusion processes. The incorporated treatments have helped IDALSA to decrease the salt cake generated per recycled ton of byproduct to less than half its previous value. The remaining waste is disposed of in a controlled landfill.