Aluminum is the world’s second most widely used metal after iron, extensively applied in aerospace, construction materials, electrical appliances, transportation and other core fields, playing a vital role in national economic development. Electrolytic aluminum dominates mainstream aluminum production, yet its manufacturing process generates massive solid waste — aluminum electrolysis spent pot lining (SPL). Statistics show that every ton of primary aluminum produced creates 30 to 50 kilograms of SPL. At present, China’s accumulated stockpiled SPL has exceeded 2 million tons, with an annual new output of over 300,000 tons, presenting a continuously high stock and growth volume.
As one of the major solid wastes from the electrolytic aluminum industry, SPL contains high concentrations of toxic and hazardous substances such as fluorides and cyanides. Improper disposal including open stacking, landfilling and random dumping will cause severe pollution to soil, groundwater and the atmosphere, and further harm human health through food chain accumulation, posing grave risks to ecological security and public health. Accordingly, developing and popularizing efficient technologies for the harmless treatment and resource recovery of electrolytic aluminum SPL to realize waste reduction, innocent disposal and circular utilization is of great practical and strategic significance for ecological protection, green development, and the construction of a resource-conserving and environmentally friendly society.
This project is a newly built comprehensive treatment facility for the harmless disposal and resource utilization of electrolytic aluminum spent pot lining (SPL) for a large manufacturing enterprise. Its core objective is to effectively treat solid waste in a harmless manner, efficiently extract valuable metal components, and mass-produce battery-grade lithium salt, cryolite and other products, so as to achieve dual benefits of solid waste recycling and ecological environmental protection.
The pulverizing section is fully equipped with Zenith LM vertical roller mills and supporting auxiliary equipment. The process solution is customized according to on-site working conditions, featuring a streamlined process and compact, high-efficiency layout. Upon official operation, the project will fundamentally solve the pollution problem caused by stockpiled spent pot lining, and truly realize waste recycling and value upgrading. The implementation of this project will help build a regional green circular industrial system, set a benchmark for solid waste resource utilization, and continuously strengthen local eco-development capacity and industrial core competitiveness.
Processing Materials: Electrolytic aluminum spent pot lining, carbon residue
Application: Lithium extraction, regenerated cryolite production
Equipment Adopted: Zenith LM Vertical Roller Mill
Spent pot lining (SPL) features complex compositions, mainly including cathode carbon blocks, refractory bricks, ramming paste, heat-insulating bricks, anti-seepage castables, refractory mortar and insulation boards. It is rich in valuable elements such as sodium, aluminum, fluorine and lithium. After being ground into fine powder, valuable substances can be efficiently recycled and reused. This fully practices the green development concept of harmless disposal + efficient circular utilization of resources, and realizes the sustainable development goal of solid waste recycling.
As the core grinding equipment for the recovery and utilization of electrolytic aluminum spent pot lining, Zenith LM Vertical Roller Mill draws on nearly 40 years of R&D and manufacturing experience in powder processing equipment. It is highly adapted to SPL treatment requirements, ensures continuous and stable operation of the entire recycling production line, greatly improves grinding efficiency, and lays a solid foundation for the subsequent extraction of valuable elements.
Core Advantages of Zenith LM Vertical Roller Mill
01. Advanced Technology & Lower Capital Investment
The equipment integrates crushing, grinding, drying, powder selection and conveying into one single unit, requiring no additional auxiliary equipment and featuring a compact and well-organized overall layout.
02. High Grinding Efficiency & Superior Finished Quality
Adopting an optimized roller and grinding table structure, it delivers greatly improved grinding efficiency compared with traditional equipment. The finished powder features uniform particle size distribution, high purity and stable quality, fully meeting the process requirements for subsequent valuable element recovery.
03. Reliable Quality & Stable Operation
Equipped with a dedicated roller limiting device to prevent direct contact between rollers and the grinding table, effectively reducing vibration and component wear. The automatic slag discharge function continuously removes impurities, ensuring long-term safe and stable operation and minimizing downtime.
04. Powerful Drying Capacity & Wide Adaptability
With hot-air feeding design, it efficiently treats spent pot lining with incoming moisture up to 15%, and keeps final moisture below 1%. It is highly adaptable to materials with varying moisture content.
05. High Automation & Easy Operation
Equipped with an intelligent automatic control system for remote operation and automatic adjustment. Complete interlock protection ensures safe and reliable operation, lowers labor intensity, simplifies workflows and boosts overall productivity.
06. Convenient Maintenance & Low Operating Cost
The grinding rollers adopt forced thin-oil lubrication to extend service life. Fitted with a hydraulic roller turning device, rollers can be flipped outside the mill without complete disassembly, enabling fast and convenient maintenance.
