Chapter 2. Production and Processing of Aluminum
The starting material for electrolytic smelting of aluminum is pure, anhydrous alumi-num oxide (Al 2 O 3) called alumina. In the Western World, the Bayer 1 process, invented in the 19th century, is by far the most important process used in the production of alumi-num oxide from bauxite. The process has been refined and improved since its inception.