Alumina as a Source of Groundwater Chemical Contamination in Central Siberia (Russia)

Alumina (Al2O3) is the raw material for producing primary aluminum. Alumina contains toxic elements. In this work, four industrial alumina samples produced at four plants from different ores were analyzed with AAS and ICP MS methods. Tests showed that there exist from 0.3 to 0.4% of toxic trace elements in industrial alumina. The concentrations of 10 elements exceed their average values in the Earth's crust. Dangerous elements such as Mo, As, Be, Hg, S are characterized by especially active accumulation in alumina.. The highest concentrations of toxic elements were found in alumina from Paleozoic bauxite while the lowest ones in alumina from young Cenozoic ores and from nepheline ores.