Bauxite Refining and Atlantic Alumina Refining Jobs

Bauxite mining and refining often take place in remote regions, meaning employees may spend significant periods away from their families and communities.

On November 4, Noranda informed employees of an internal company announcement: its Louisiana-based ATALCO Gramercy Operations would be rebranded Atlantic Alumina, representing one of two alumina refineries remaining in the United States that produce both smelter-grade alumina for aluminum production as well as chemical grade grades of aluminas for chemical applications. The transition is scheduled to occur gradually over the coming months.

Bauxite

Bauxite is the primary ore of aluminium (Al). It consists of impure aluminum hydroxides contaminated by silica and iron that form through weathering of rocks rich in aluminium silicates.

Aluminum is used in the production of soft, silvery-grey metal known as aluminium, the world’s most widely-used nonmagnetic metal used primarily in transportation and food packaging applications. Aluminium can also be alloyed with copper, zinc, magnesium manganese or silicon to improve its strength or corrosion resistance.

Bauxite mining occurs across a number of states within the US; however, most is mined in west central Arkansas by two companies, Alcoa and McGeorge Contracting Co. Alcoa first discovered bauxite here in 1899 when John R. Gibbons and J. Felton Gibbons from Alcoa went out to investigate an ore deposit there and discovered its ideal properties for manufacturing aluminum products.

Bauxite can be used not only in the production of aluminium, but it is also useful as an abrasive in cleaning products like polish, toothpaste and surface cleaners. Bauxite’s naturally abrasive texture helps remove stubborn dirt from surfaces efficiently.

Bauxite, in addition to being an abrasive substance, is also highly soluble in various chemicals – making it suitable for inclusion as an ingredient in pharmaceutical products or even as a catalyst in petroleum and natural gas production processes.

Bauxite is highly abrasive and often used in the production of abrasives such as sandpaper and grinding wheels, as well as being an essential ingredient in glass industry refractories.

Importantly, it should be noted that despite its highly abrasive properties, bauxite has not been demonstrated to cause any detrimental health effects when exposed in workplace environments that meet safety standards. Numerous studies of occupational exposure to bauxite have not found evidence of pneumoconiosis or other respiratory diseases and it is generally accepted that exposure levels for most workers fall well below occupational exposure limits.

Refinery

Refineries are plants that transform crude oil into refined products like gasoline, fuel oil, asphalt and waxes. Their operation creates employment opportunities for local communities in terms of machine operators jobs, quality control technicians jobs and maintenance staff jobs – as well as teaching new skills which could later help reduce unemployment rates in an area and strengthen community harmony and stability.

The process for refining bauxite involves grinding raw ore into a fine slurry that is treated with caustic soda to produce “green liquor.” Once this solution has been obtained, insoluble residues such as sand and mud must be separated off and stored away before undergoing various chemical reactions that produce aluminium trihydrate, more commonly referred to as alumina.

Atlantic Alumina’s Gramercy refinery in New Jersey was hit by Hurricane Ida earlier this month and temporarily halted production levels; since then it has returned to normal levels, and hopes are being explored regarding restarting operations in Jamaica soon.

Alumina can be found in many applications, from producing refractory bricks and castable linings for pulverized coal lines and flue gas ducting to acting as electrical insulator and tunnel barrier in superconducting devices, ceramics, glass polishing applications and polishing of mirrors and jewelry. Furthermore, aluminium oxide produced from alumina has numerous industrial uses, including coating titania pigments as a fire retardant/smoke suppressant.

Refinery plant employees face numerous hazards, including mercury vapor and chemical exposures, due to the processes they undergo at refineries. Refining processes also create significant amounts of heat and exhaust, necessitating workers to wear appropriate safety equipment such as respiratory protection when handling hazardous materials; refineries have water curtains and degassing systems installed as preventative measures against mercury accumulation in their workplace.

Workers at an alumina refinery should also be wary of radiological hazards. Bauxite ore contains low levels of radioactive material, including uranium (238U) and thorium (232Th), that transfers almost entirely into Bayer process residues before precipitation, or into sand and mud residue streams but does not enter the final alumina product itself. Positional and personal monitoring data from Western Australia mines and refineries show radiation doses remain well below the 2013 American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit Value Threshold Limit Value Threshold Limit Value threshold value of 0.025 mg/m3. Positional monitoring data shows radiation exposure levels remain consistently below 2013 American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit Value Threshold Limit Value threshold value threshold threshold limit value of 0.025 mg/m3.

Chemicals

Chemical manufacturing transforms raw materials such as oil, air, water and metals into thousands of diverse products that find use across an array of sectors ranging from food and beverage to pharmaceuticals, clothing and cleaning solutions. Chemicals are used in many different products such as building materials, automobiles, industrial machinery and medical devices. Proper training, awareness of potential risks involved and labeling of chemical containers is crucial. Chemicals should be stored in separate areas or cabinets under appropriate climatic conditions, with no contact between chemicals being allowed between each other as this could lead to explosions and fires. It’s also essential that containers are completely closed and sealed up properly to avoid an incident of chemical spillage and leakage.

Bauxite mining and refining must abide by stringent environmental regulations in order to avoid contamination of soil, water and air – especially during production of alumina. Bauxite contains low levels of naturally occurring radioactivity such as Uranium (238U), Thorium 232Th and Radium 233Ra. Additionally, large amounts of toxic heavy metals such as Lead Cadmium Mercury exist within its composition that could present health concerns to both people and animals alike.

Biological monitoring is an invaluable way of measuring toxic heavy metal levels in workers. The data gathered can be used to ascertain exposure and assess protective measures’ efficacy; for instance, New Day Aluminum’s Gramercy plant employees’ urinary mercury concentrations typically fall below the current ACGIH occupational exposure limit of 20 mg/g creatinine, yet their wastewater contains higher than usual concentrations of mercury.

Multiple people were injured Sunday afternoon during an incident at Gramercy Alumina Refinery in Baton Rouge. Officials believe it was caused by an unexpected release of heated process mix; according to OHSEP officials the event lasted only about two minutes; victims were transported to local hospitals with serious but non-life-threatening burns.

EFSA provides scientific advice through risk assessments and technical assistance related to chemicals found in food and feed, which are then utilized by European Union risk managers when making decisions regarding human and animal health as well as environmental considerations. During a risk evaluation, all available information such as properties, production processes and uses are taken into consideration in making their assessments.

Aluminum

Aluminum is one of the most versatile metals, capable of being cast, melted, formed, machined and extruded into shapes that suit a range of applications. Highly durable yet flexible and lightweight properties make aluminum an excellent material choice for cars or other forms of transport. Furthermore, 100% recyclable aluminum can be recycled repeatedly without losing its properties – saving energy, resources and helping protect the environment!

Alumina, also known as Al2O3, is a red-brown solid with the chemical formula Al2O3. Alumina production requires heating natural bauxite ore to 900degC in an electric arc furnace and purifying by leaching with sulfuric acid to form sodium aluminate (NaAlO2). Subsequent electrolytic refining processes convert NaAlO2 back to pure aluminium metal.

Aluminium can be found everywhere from construction materials to consumer products, making it a widely-used material in everyday life. Thanks to its strength, durability, and versatility, aluminum has long been revered. Polishing it to create a glossy surface or brushing with stainless steel shot can add interesting textures. Anodization or powder-coating are other ways of increasing longevity while decreasing maintenance costs.

Rebranding of Concord Resources’s alumina facilities is part of an initiative to increase efficiency and lower operating expenses. Louisiana facility formerly known as Noranda Alumina/NICHE Chemical will now be known as Atlantic Alumina Gramercy Operations to reflect Concord Resources ownership of the business.

As part of its rebrand, Gramercy Alumina refinery will also qualify for the Critical Minerals Act’s 45X credit, enabling companies to reduce federal income tax liability when using domestic alumina in certain production activities.

Multiple workers were injured at an alumina plant in Gramercy, Louisiana on Sunday after an incident caused a fire to break out due to sudden release of heated process materials. The incident was reported on Monday to Louisiana Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness while employees were engaged in routine maintenance work at the time.