In chemistry, an aluminate is a compound containing an oxyanion of aluminium, such as sodium aluminate. In the naming of inorganic compounds, it is a suffix that indicates a polyatomic anion with a central aluminium atom.[1]
Aluminium oxide (alumina) is amphoteric: it dissolves in both bases and acids. When dissolved in bases it forms hydroxyaluminate ions in the same way as aluminium hydroxide or aluminium salts. The hydroxyaluminate or hydrated aluminate can be precipitated and then calcined to produce anhydrous aluminates. Aluminates are often formulated as a combination of basic oxide and aluminium oxide, for example the formula of anhydrous sodium aluminate NaAlO2 would be shown as Na2O·Al2O3. A number of aluminate oxyanions are known:
There are many mixed oxides containing aluminium where there are no discrete or polymeric aluminate ions. The spinels with a generic formula A2+
B3+
2O2−
4 that contain aluminium as Al3+, such as the mineral spinel itself, MgAl2O4 are mixed oxides with cubic close packed O atoms and aluminium Al3+ in octahedral positions.[7]
BeAl2O4, chrysoberyl, isomorphous with olivine, has hexagonal close-packed oxygen atoms with aluminium in octahedral positions and beryllium in tetrahedral positions.[8]
Some oxides with the general formula of MAlO3 sometimes called aluminates or orthoaluminates such as YAlO3, Yttrium ortho-aluminate are mixed oxides and have the perovskite structure.[9] Some oxides such as Y3Al5O12, usually called YAG, have the garnet structure.[7]
The Al(OH)−
4 anion is known in high pH solutions of Al(OH)3.[6]
Alumina on its own cannot easily be made glassy with current techniques, however with the addition of a second compound many types of aluminate glasses can be formed. The glasses produced display a range of interesting and useful properties, such as high refractive index, good infrared transparency, and high melting point, as well as the ability to host laser active and fluorescent ions. Aerodynamic levitation is a key method used to study and produce many aluminate glasses. Levitation allows high purity to be maintained in the melt at temperatures in excess of 2,000 K (1,700 °C).[10]
Some materials that are known to form glass in binary combination with aluminium oxide are: rare earth oxides, alkaline earth oxides (CaO, SrO, BaO), lead oxide, and silicon dioxide.
Also, the Al2O3 (aluminate) system has been discovered to form sapphire-like glass ceramics. Often, this ability is based upon compositions in which interplay between glass forming ability and glass stability is approximately balanced.[11]
Sodium aluminate, NaAlO2, is used industrially in dyeing to form a mordant and the hydrated forms are used in water purification, sizing of paper and in the manufacture of zeolites, ceramics and catalysts in the petrochemical industry. In the isomerization process of alkenes and amines[12] Calcium aluminates are important ingredients of cements.[6]
Li5AlO4 is used in the nuclear power industry.[13]
Examples are:
Many recent research studies have focused on an effective solution for waste treatment. This has led some residues to be made into new raw materials for many industries. Such an achievement ensures a reduction in energy and natural resource usage, decreasing of the negative environmental impact and creating new fields of work.
A good example comes from the metals industry, particularly the aluminium industry. Aluminium recycling is a beneficial activity for the environment, since it recovers resources from both manufacturing and consumer waste. Slag and scrap which were previously considered as waste, are now the raw material for some highly profitable new industries. There is added-value in materials made using an aluminium residue which is currently considered as a hazardous waste. Current research is investigating the use of this waste to manufacture glass, glass-ceramic, boehmite and calcium aluminate.[14]