Datang Successfully Produces Alumina from Coal Ash         

Datang International Power Generation Co., Ltd. (DIPGC) said that it has completed construction of a plant for recovering 3 000 tons of alumina a year from high alumina content coal ash. On January 9th, 2009 DIPGC singed a framework agreement with the Erdos government for cooperation on this project.
   China's aluminum smelters have expanded rapidly over the last few years, straining the country's ability to supply alumina as well as its raw material, bauxite. While ash remaining after coal is burned in China's power industry is more than 400 million tons every year, causing large occupation of land and heavy pollution.
   The plant is expected to source its coal ash from power plants in Inner Mongolia, where alumina content in coal ash is near 50 percent, much higher than from other coal sources.