Multinational Alcoa announced Monday that it plans to introduce a new carbon capture system to China and other countries throughout the globe.

 

Alcoa said its factory in western Australia has already launched the new system, which is expected to sharply lower greenhouse gas emissions in the aluminium industry.

 

Alcoa's new carbon-capture system handles alumina processing residue by mixing "red mud" with CO2. "Red mud" is a kind of solid waste left over after alumina is extracted from bauxite. Its high alkalescence is harmful to water, land and air if released without proper treatment.

 

By mixing red mud with CO2, Alcoa successfully lowers the PH value of red mud to the level of normal alkali soil. The treated red mud can be used as construction materials for roads and buildings, or as a soil enhancer.

 

It is predicted that in Alcoa's Australian plants alone, the new technology will cut CO2 emissions by 300,000 tons annually, equivalent to the emissions from 75,000 motor vehicles.

 

Alcoa is one of the world's major producers of alumina, electrolytic aluminium and aluminium products. Currently it has 18 enterprises in China.

 

(Xinhua News Agency May 29, 2007)