Synthesizing new anodes from first cut spent pot lining (SPL)

The aluminum industry produces hundreds of tons of spent pot lining (SPL) waste every year. SPL is classified into two types: 1st and 2nd cut. The 1st cut SPL, which is the material under study in this work, is mainly composed of graphite (~ 60%), ceramic materials (~ 30 %) and Al metal (~ 10%). On contrary with the 2nd Cut SPL, there is a consensus that the 1st cut SPL is a hazardous material and must be treated before dumping it in a landfill. Recycling it will be more beneficial if possible. The aim of this book is using the extracted graphite material from the 1st Cut SPL to produce new carbonaceous anodes for the Al molten electrolytic cells. The idea is to mix the extracted graphitic material with new binders e.g. phenylenediamine (C6H4(NH2)2), polyaniline or boron (congregationally, separately, or as a mixture of any two of them) to increase the thermal and chemical stability and electrical conductivity of these new anodes compared to the currently used anodes in Qatalum (Qatalum uses 80 %petroleum coke + 20%coal tar pitch (CTP) as a binder).