P.T. Indonesia Chemical Alumina (ICA), a joint venture (JV) owned by Showa Denko K.K. (SDK; Tokyo, Japan; www.sdk.co.jp) and PT Antam (Persero) Tbk (Antam), of Indonesia, has started commercial operation of its new chemical alumina plant established in the Tayan District, West Kalimantan, Indonesia. The new plant’s production capacity is 300,000 metric tons per year (m.t./yr).
The term “chemical alumina” refers collectively to alumina and aluminum hydroxide for applications other than aluminum smelting, produced through the Bayer process – a common way to produce alumina, which extracts aluminum hydroxide (alumina) from bauxite as raw material, by utilizing sodium hydroxide (caustic soda). Chemical alumina is used for various industrial applications including chemicals for water treatment, functional materials (such as ceramic refractories, abrasives, and radiators), and electronic materials (such as IC packaging and LCD glass).
SDK will soon start to sell chemical alumina products manufactured at the new plant to its customers in and outside Japan, and will establish a supply system focusing on the growing Asian market, aiming to expand sales of chemical alumina for use in water treatment and as ingredients of functional materials.