Macromolecular organic Bayer poisons

Funding or Partner Organisation: Australian Research Council (ARC Large Grant)

Start year: 1998

Summary: Alumina and its smelting product are two of Australia's five most important exports. Production of Alumina is achieved by the Bayer process. Macromolecular humic poisons have been recognised as important in reducing yields of alumina, affecting colour and reducing oxalate removal in the process. The problem is particularly important in processing Australian ores. Using pyrolysis gas chromatography mass spectrometry, and NMR techniques including new methodology it is proposed to determine the molecular structure of molecular weight fractions of these materials, evaluate the most critical poisons and demonstrate how their activity can be reduced. This information is necessary to develop new additives for increasing yields in the Bayer process. New science may increase Australia's output of alumina by as much as 20%. The objectives of this project were 1) to analyse the organic matter in Bayer liquors using state of the art organic geochemical techniques, 2) test fractions for poisoning activity, 3) demonstrate how activity can be reduced.

Publications:

Marshall, CP, Kannangara, GSK, Alvarez, R & Wilson, MA 2005, 'Characterisation of insoluble charcoal in Weipa bauxite', Carbon, vol. 43, no. 6, pp. 1279-1285.
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Whelan, T-J, Shalliker, RA, McIntyre, C & Wilson, MA 2005, 'Development of a Multidimensional High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) Separation for Bayer Humic Substances', Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, vol. 44, no. 9, pp. 3229-3237.
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Ellis, AV, Kannangara, GSK & Wilson, MA 2003, 'Chemistry of sodium lactate formation under simulated alumina refinery conditions', INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH, vol. 42, no. 14, pp. 3185-3189.
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Whelan, TJ, Ellis, A, Kannangara, GSK, Marshall, CP, Smeulders, D & Wilson, MA 2003, 'MACROMOLECULES IN THE BAYER PROCESS', Reviews in Chemical Engineering, vol. 19, no. 5, pp. 431-471.
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Whelan, TJ, Kannangara, GSK & Wilson, MA 2003, 'Increased Resolution in High-Performance Liquid Chromatograph Spectra of High-Molecular-Weight Organic Components of Bayer Liquors', Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, vol. 42, no. 26, pp. 6673-6681.
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Ellis, AV & Wilson, MA 2002, 'Carbon exchange in hot alkaline degradation of glucose', JOURNAL OF ORGANIC CHEMISTRY, vol. 67, no. 24, pp. 8469-8474.
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Ellis, AV, Wilson, MA & Forster, P 2002, 'Bayer poisons: Degradation of mason lignin in sodium hydroxide at 145 degrees C', INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH, vol. 41, no. 25, pp. 6493-6502.
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Ellis, AV, Wilson, MA & Kannangara, K 2002, 'Bayer poisons: Degradation of angiosperm and gymnosperm water-soluble extracts in sodium hydroxide at 145 degrees C', INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH, vol. 41, no. 12, pp. 2842-2852.
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Smeulders, DE, Wilson, MA & Armstrong, L 2001, 'Insoluble Organic Compounds in the Bayer Process', Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, vol. 40, no. 10, pp. 2243-2251.
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Smeulders, DE, Wilson, MA & Armstrong, L 2001, 'Poisoning of Aluminum Hydroxide Precipitation by High-Molecular-Weight Fractions of Bayer Organics', Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, vol. 40, no. 25, pp. 5901-5907.
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Smeulders, DE, Wilson, MA & Kannangara, GSK 2001, 'Host–guest interactions in humic materials', Organic Geochemistry, vol. 32, no. 11, pp. 1357-1371.
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Smeulders, DE, Wilson, MA, Patney, H & Armstrong, L 2000, 'Structure of Molecular Weight Fractions of Bayer Humic Substances. 2. Pyrolysis Behavior of High-Temperature Products', Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, vol. 39, no. 10, pp. 3631-3639.
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Wilson, MA, Ellis, AV, Lee, GSH, Rose, HR, Lu, XQ & Young, BR 1999, 'Structure of molecular weight fractions of bayer humic substances. 1. Low-temperature products', INDUSTRIAL & ENGINEERING CHEMISTRY RESEARCH, vol. 38, no. 12, pp. 4663-4674.
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Lee, GSH, Wilson, MA & Young, BR 1998, 'The application of the “WATERGATE” suppression technique for analyzing humic substances by nuclear magnetic resonance', Organic Geochemistry, vol. 28, no. 9-10, pp. 549-559.
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Wilson, MA, Farquharson, GJ, Tippett, JM, Quezada, RA & Armstrong, L 1998, 'Aluminophilicity of the Humic Degradation Product 5-Hydroxybenzene-1,3-dicarboxylic Acid', Industrial & Engineering Chemistry Research, vol. 37, no. 6, pp. 2410-2415.
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Acknowledgement of Country

UTS acknowledges the Gadigal people of the Eora Nation, the Boorooberongal people of the Dharug Nation, the Bidiagal people and the Gamaygal people, upon whose ancestral lands our university stands. We would also like to pay respect to the Elders both past and present, acknowledging them as the traditional custodians of knowledge for these lands.