Synthesis and scaling up of bio-based synthetic tars to decarbonize the Canadian and Quebec aluminum industry

PROJECT COST:

878 450 $

PRIMA CONTRIBUTION:

196 070 $

PROJECT DETAILS:

Industrial aluminum production is carried out using the Hall-Héroult process, which relies on consumable carbon anodes. To produce one tonne of aluminum, approximately 400kg of carbon anode must be consumed and converted into CO₂. To produce 1000kg of anode, approximately 150kg of coal (or petroleum) binding pitch is consumed.

The pitch allows for the shaping of raw carbon powder into a block usable in the Hall-Héroult process. There are no commercial substitutes for coal or petroleum pitches. Due to their fossil origin, the CO₂ impact of industrial pitches on the carbon footprint of aluminum is approximately 600kg (equivalent) CO₂ per tonne of aluminum (approximately 15% of the average carbon footprint of aluminum produced in Québec). This research project proposes to develop a synthetic pitch with a reduced carbon footprint to decarbonize the Hall-Héroult process. This synthetic pitch will be developed based on the synthetic pitch technology of Professor Philippe Ouzilleau at McGill University.

The goal is to add 15% nearly carbon-neutral synthetic pitch. The carbon blocks produced must:

Have competitive electrical conductivity.
Have a minimum density of 1.55 g cm⁻³.
Have a reduced carbon footprint.

This project will facilitate the transfer of the McGill Graphite Group’s synthetic pitch technology to Rio Tinto Alcan’s Arvida Research and Development Centre (ARDC). This transfer will enable the pilot-scale implementation of this synthetic pitch technology for evaluation as an alternative electrode production process. If this evaluation is positive, industrial-scale implementation will be assessed in a subsequent project. The project will provide training for two doctoral students.