Determination of the iron content of aluminate liquors from the Bayer alumina process by neutron activation analysis

The behaviour of iron in the Bayer process has been investigated by neutron activation analysis and Ge(Li) spectrometry, using bauxite samples of various origin. The amount of iron impurities in alumina was found to be independent of the origin of the bauxites. Alumina is contaminated by iron in the process of decomposition of aluminate liquors; regardless whether iron is present in ‘dissolved’ form or as a floating impurity, it will pass into the alumina almost completely.