Alpha HPA, the aluminium chemicals company, has recently initiated small-scale commercial production of its 5N purity aluminium nitrate (Al-nitrate) precursors at its Stage 1 Precursor Production Facility (PPF) in Gladstone, Queensland. The facility manufactures high-purity alumina (HPA), essential components used as anodes in lithium-ion batteries. Additionally, it is in the final stages of equipment commissioning to enhance its capacity to produce the complete range of the company's high-purity aluminium products.
According to a recent company statement, Alpha HPA is nearing completion of the Definitive Feasibility Study (DFS) and securing financing arrangements for Stage 2 of the HPA First Project. This significant step will establish a full-scale commercial aluminium purification facility.
Alpha Managing Director Rimas Kairaitis stated, "We are very pleased to have also established stable production of high purity aluminas, with Stage 1 now producing over 500kgs per week of HPA at greater than 99.995 percent purity. Alpha's process technology advantage is considered unique, with this purity capability probably only replicated using a higher cost and higher carbon process in two or three other manufacturing sites globally. This capability is increasing our ability to deliver larger volume test work and to facilitate small scale sales to customers, which we can now build into commercial scale contracts."
In Stage 1, the HPA circuit demonstrated its ability to produce nano HPA, high-purity alumina hydrates, and high-purity aluminium sulphate. Alpha HPA has also disclosed that it is nearing completion of the initial assembly of two synthetic sapphire growth units (Phase A), with technical support from Ebner-Fametec, the technology provider.Sapphire glass, renowned for its ultra-purity, is used in various optical devices and as the screen material for mobile phones. In April, Alpha HPA will commence the first on-site crystal growth in Gladstone.
