Occupational limits exist in several countries for exposures to aluminium dust and aluminium oxide. Natural aluminium minerals especially bentonite and zeolite are used in water purification, sugar refining, brewing and paper industries.Īluminium has not been classified with respect to carcinogenicity however, “aluminium production” has been classified as carcinogenic to humans by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) (for further explanation, please see Effects on Humans, Effects from Occupational Exposure, Cancer). Food related uses of aluminium compounds include preservatives, fillers, colouring agents, anti-caking agents, emulsifiers and baking powders soy-based infant formula can contain aluminium. Aluminium hydroxide is used widely in pharmaceutical and personal care products. Aluminium oxides are used as food additives and in the manufacture of, for example, abrasives, refractories, ceramics, electrical insulators, catalysts, paper, spark plugs, light bulbs, artificial gems, alloys, glass and heat resistant fibres. Aluminium powders are used in pigments and paints, fuel additives, explosives and propellants. Transportation uses are one of the fastest growing areas for aluminium use. The largest markets for aluminium metal and its alloys are in transportation, building and construction, packaging and in electrical equipment. More than 7 million tonnes of aluminium is recovered annually from recycled old scrap. In that year, worldwide production of primary aluminium, alumina and aluminium hydroxide reached about 30, 63, and 5 million tonnes per annum, respectively. In 2004, primary aluminium was being produced in 41 countries, the largest producers being China, Russia, Canada and the United States. Aluminium hydroxide is produced from bauxite. Bauxite is refined to produce alumina from which aluminium metal is recovered by electrolytic reduction aluminium is also recycled from scrap. Certain uses lead to the presence of aluminium in drinking water and foodstuffs.īauxite is the most important raw material used in the production of aluminium. Acidic precipitation mobilizes aluminium from natural sources, and direct anthropogenic releases of aluminium compounds associated with industrial processes occur mainly to air. Natural processes account for most of the redistribution of aluminium in the environment. And finally, the more recent analytical methods available for the study of chemical speciation in solids and solution, and for quantitative analysis, have been applied to the determination of aluminium and the identification of its various forms.Īluminium and its compounds comprise about 8% of the Earth’s surface aluminium occurs naturally in silicates, cryolite, and bauxite rock. Few compounds of aluminium are classified in Annex 1 of the European Economic Union Council (EEC) Directive 67/1548, with aluminium powder and sodium aluminium fluoride (cryolite) as examples of exceptions, as well as compounds in which the anion renders them reactive such as aluminium phosphide. Aluminium oxides, hydroxides and oxyhydroxides occur in numerous crystallographic forms, which exhibit different surface properties. Like Mg 2+ and Ca 2+ ions, Al 3+ in most situations seeks out complexing agents with oxygen-atom donor sites such as carboxylate and phosphate groups, including in biological systems. The solubility of aluminium salts is governed by pH, because the aluminium(III)-cation (Al 3+) has a strong affinity for the hydroxide ion, which promotes precipitation. Most aluminium compounds are solids exhibiting high melting points. Identity, Physical and Chemical Properties, Analytical MethodsĪ compendium is provided of aluminium compounds used in industrial settings, and as pharmaceuticals, food additives, cosmetics and as other household products.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |