Recovery and recycling of aluminum: strategies

Aluminum is the second most widely used metal on Earth after iron. Demand for it is growing. Thanks to its low density, high conductivity, and good corrosion resistance, it is used in a variety of fields, for structural purposes (transport 27%, including 18% for light vehicles, construction 24%, packaging 13% and household appliances 7%) or as a functional material (electrical applications 13% and thermal applications 7%). The remaining aluminum (9%) is used in dispersed form, for example in paints or in lithographic plates . The automotive sector is therefore the primary driver of increased aluminum consumption, using it to replace steel parts in the chassis to reduce weight, or in the combustion engine or battery . Aluminum also plays a very important role in the energy transition (mainly in the photovoltaic and onshore wind power sectors) and the digital transition. Driven by these sectors, demand for aluminum has grown steadily in recent decades, and various scenarios predict continued growth in its use .

Aluminum ore resources, bauxite, are not critical, but aluminum production remains extremely energy-intensive, and the environmental and economic impacts are therefore significant:

• Environment: Bauxite is found on the surface of the Earth's crust, and its extraction therefore requires significant land destruction. The process of transforming bauxite into alumina generates toxic red mud, for which there are currently limited treatment options. Finally, aluminum production emits a lot of CO ₂ , mainly during the electrolysis stage (emissions therefore depend mainly on the energy mix used, as well as the anode techniques)....