Kaiser Alumina Now Gramercy Works, Research Paper Example

I have chosen Kaiser Alumina now Gramercy Works, maker of alumina hydrate and alumina products. The reason for choosing this company is because they are a nationally known company for producing alumina hydrate through the composition of Jamaican bauxite dirt and Sodium Hydroxide (NaOH) whilst turning this composition into alumina final product. Though they are not a multi-billion dollar company and have had some pitfalls leading them to bankruptcy they are still a national thriving company on the New York trade market. Their final products are used in the production of aluminum which is used in various production purposes such as home construction and the production of vehicles. Sometimes the middle sized companies manage to produce smaller volume but larger profit or a better quality product than the Fortune 500 companies because they produce a ‘niche product’ such that Kaiser Alumina/Gramercy Alumina produces. There are only a few plants that produce alumina hydrate in the world. They choose to obtain their bauxite mud/dust from Jamaica because it is a smoother dust product a cleaner yielded product hence clogging less production lines in the process.

Kaiser Alumina/Gramercy Works offers both alumina hydrate for the production of the final product aluminum. Alumina hydrate is chemically known as aluminum hydroxide Al (OH)3 with a molecular weight of 78. It is used in the production of “glass, frits, catalyst inhibitors, smoke suppressants, as a raw material for fertilizers, a bodying agent in paper production, as a solvent in paint, UV curable coatings and as an extender in adhesives amongst other minor applications.” (“Aluminum Hydroxide”). For the purpose of this research and process we will state the hydrate is used primarily for the production of aluminum (Al) for various sources.

The process used to produce the Al (OH)3 is not a very difficult process but does involve some chemical reaction. The feedstock is Jamacian redust which is introduced into the digestion unit at a ratio of 3 parts dust/mud to 1 part catalyst (NaOH) at the rate of 10 psi under N2. The energy is generated by the powerhouse with a constant flow rate. The catalytic reaction takes place within 20 minutes of the introduction of the NaOH. The entire process is a continuous ‘batch reaction’.  Research used to develop the process is tested by use of particle size analyzers, sieve analysis and XRD/XRF analysis.

The company uses batch processes to develop the process in their Baton Rouge, LA laboratory through continuous field sampling and continuous runs on previous samples taken by the Quality Assurance Laboratory in hopes to repeat the process analysis. The laboratory is attempting to develop better ways to remove the moisture from the hydrate during the drying process when the hydrate hits the belts before loading the trucks for shipment. Further research through attrition is conducted to eliminate air gaps in the flow of the dried product so that the shipments can be sent to the customers in a speedier process and without losing any weight since the product is sold at the rate of per pound.

References

Aluminum Hydroxide (2010) Raw Material Classifications Retrieved May 24, 2010 from, http://chemicalland21.com/industrialchem/inorganic/aloh3.htm