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Analysis of institutional authors

Fernandez-Gonzalez, DCorresponding AuthorRuiz-Bustinza, IAuthorFernandez, AAuthor

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April 11, 2024
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Solar Assisted Production of MgAl2O4 from Bayer Process Electrofilter Fines as Source of Al2O3

Publicated to: Journal Of Sustainable Metallurgy. 10 (1): 296-310 - 2024-03-01 10(1), DOI: 10.1007/s40831-024-00805-6

Authors:

Fernández-González, D; Piñuela-Noval, J; Ruiz-Bustinza, I; González-Gasca, C; Gómez-Rodríguez, C; García-Quiñonez, LV; López-Liévano, A; Fernández, A; Verdeja, LF
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Affiliations

Univ Oviedo UO, Nanomat & Nanotechnol Res Ctr CINN CSIC, Avda Vega 4-6,Principado Asturias PA, El Entrego 33940 - Author
Univ Oviedo, Sch Mines Energy & Mat, Dept Mat Sci & Met Engn, Oviedo 33004 - Author
Univ Politecn Madrid, Escuela Tecn Super Ingn Minas & Energia, Dept Ingn Geol & Min - Author
Univ UNIE, Calle Arapiles, 14 - Author
Univ Veracruzana, Ctr Invest Recursos Energet & Sustentables CIRES, Ave Univ Veracruzana Km 7-5,Col St Isabel I, Coatzacoalcos 96538 - Author
Univ Veracruzana, Fac Ingn, Dept Mecan, Campus Coatzacoalcos,Ave Univ Km 7-5 Col St Isabel, Coatzacoalcos 96535 - Author
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Abstract

Compared with conventional high-temperature methods based on electricity and fossil fuels, concentrated solar energy route offers distinct advantages in terms of mitigating emissions of contaminants and shortening processing times. Nevertheless, solar-based route also encounters challenges in producing significant quantities of materials, although the deployment of this technology is still conditioned by the limited investigation in the field. This study presents a novel high-temperature process based on solar energy to produce MgAl2O4 spinel, which employs as source of Al2O3 a waste from the aluminum industry: waste alumina fines from the Bayer process. First, mixtures were prepared by mechanical mixing in a molar ratio 1:1 in agreement with the MgO-Al2O3 binary phase diagram. Then, synthesis of the MgAl2O4 spinel was conducted by static experiments (5 min) with direct application of concentrated solar energy (1150 W/cm(2)) at temperatures greatly exceeding 1800 degree celsius as reported by ANSYS software. Wastes from three Bayer process factories were studied, which exhibited after the synthesis process a good crystallinity. The carbon dioxide emissions avoidance would range from the 200 to 500 tons of CO2/year in the case of a small plant producing 1000 tons/year to 5000 to 12,000 tons of CO2/year in the case of a commercial plant producing 25,000 tons/year, thus contributing to mitigate climate change. The proposed process might lead to smaller volume of wastes in the aluminum industry, while the MgAl2O4 may be used as raw material in the numerous fields based on the chemical, thermal, dielectric, mechanical and optical properties.
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Keywords

AluminaAluminumAluminum industryAluminum oxideApplication programsBarium compoundsBayer processBinary mixturesCarbon dioxideCircular economyConcentrated solar energyCrystallinityEnergy routeFossil fuelsGlobal warmingHigh temperature processHighest temperatureMagnesiaMercury mine wastesMetallurgyMgal2o4 spinelMgal<sub>2</sub>o<sub>4</sub> spinelMolar ratioNanocrystalline mgal2o4NanopowdersOptical propertiesOxideProcess heatProcessing timeReactor technologySolar assistedSolar energySpinelSustainabilityTemperature synthesisTransformations

Quality index

Bibliometric impact. Analysis of the contribution and dissemination channel

The work has been published in the journal Journal Of Sustainable Metallurgy due to its progression and the good impact it has achieved in recent years, according to the agency Scopus (SJR), it has become a reference in its field. In the year of publication of the work, 2024 there are still no calculated indicators, but in 2023, it was in position , thus managing to position itself as a Q1 (Primer Cuartil), in the category Metals and Alloys.

Independientemente del impacto esperado determinado por el canal de difusión, es importante destacar el impacto real observado de la propia aportación.

Según las diferentes agencias de indexación, el número de citas acumuladas por esta publicación hasta la fecha 2026-04-25:

  • WoS: 3
  • Scopus: 2
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Impact and social visibility

From the perspective of influence or social adoption, and based on metrics associated with mentions and interactions provided by agencies specializing in calculating the so-called "Alternative or Social Metrics," we can highlight as of 2026-04-25:

  • The use of this contribution in bookmarks, code forks, additions to favorite lists for recurrent reading, as well as general views, indicates that someone is using the publication as a basis for their current work. This may be a notable indicator of future more formal and academic citations. This claim is supported by the result of the "Capture" indicator, which yields a total of: 8 (PlumX).

It is essential to present evidence supporting full alignment with institutional principles and guidelines on Open Science and the Conservation and Dissemination of Intellectual Heritage. A clear example of this is:

  • The work has been submitted to a journal whose editorial policy allows open Open Access publication.
  • Assignment of a Handle/URN as an identifier within the deposit in the Institutional Repository: https://oa.upm.es/85976/

As a result of the publication of the work in the institutional repository, statistical usage data has been obtained that reflects its impact. In terms of dissemination, we can state that, as of

  • Views: 114
  • Downloads: 31
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Leadership analysis of institutional authors

This work has been carried out with international collaboration, specifically with researchers from: Mexico.

There is a significant leadership presence as some of the institution’s authors appear as the first or last signer, detailed as follows: First Author (Fernández González, Diana) .

the author responsible for correspondence tasks has been Fernández González, Diana.

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Project objectives

Este estudio persigue los siguientes objetivos: analizar la viabilidad de un proceso de alta temperatura asistido por energía solar para la producción de MgAl2O4 spinel; evaluar el uso de residuos de alumina fina del proceso Bayer como fuente de Al2O3; determinar las condiciones óptimas de síntesis mediante la aplicación directa de energía solar concentrada a temperaturas superiores a 1800 °C; caracterizar la cristalinidad del MgAl2O4 obtenido a partir de residuos de tres fábricas diferentes; estimar la reducción de emisiones de CO2 asociada al proceso, que oscila entre 200 y 12,000 toneladas anuales según la escala de producción; y valorar el potencial del proceso para disminuir el volumen de residuos en la industria del aluminio y su aplicación en diversos campos industriales.
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Most relevant results

El estudio presenta un proceso innovador para la producción de MgAl2O4 mediante energía solar concentrada, utilizando residuos de alumina del proceso Bayer como fuente de Al2O3. Los resultados más relevantes incluyen: la síntesis del espinela MgAl2O4 se realizó en 5 minutos a temperaturas superiores a 1800 °C con una intensidad solar de 1150 W/cm²; se evaluaron residuos de tres plantas Bayer, que mostraron buena cristalinidad tras el proceso; la reducción estimada de emisiones de CO2 varía entre 200 y 500 toneladas anuales para plantas pequeñas (1000 t/año) y entre 5000 y 12,000 toneladas para plantas comerciales (25,000 t/año); el método contribuye a la disminución del volumen de residuos en la industria del aluminio y genera un material con múltiples aplicaciones industriales.
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