Cryolite is used in the aluminium metallurgy as a component in fluxing agents and protective and refining salts.
Peroxygens find application in a wide range of metals and mining applications including the extraction of metals such as gold and uranium among others, the recovery of metals from scrap and various types of metal surface treatment.
Hydrogen peroxide itself is a very attractive reagent to use in metallurgy as its decomposition products are only water and oxygen. A limitation on its efficient use in some applications is a tendency to decompose in the presence of transition metal ions at elevated temperatures however this can be overcome by conversion to Caro's acid (H2SO5-) which is a stronger oxidant than H2O2 via a straightforward reaction usually carried out at the users site. Solvay can provide advice and assistance to customers wishing to generate Caro's acid on site.
SODASOLVAY® is used in the process of a large number of non-ferrous metals: leaching of uranium ore (nuclear energy), precipitation of lithium carbonate (Li-ion batteries), precipitation of cobalt carbonate (inorganic pigment and precursor to many catalysts), recycling of the lead from discarded batteries and industrial dusts, sintering of low-grade bauxite for production of alumina, etc.
