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Bayer process
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<p>The Bayer process is the principal industrial means of refining <a href="/facts/Bauxite/CJ10QPc6">bauxite</a> to produce <a href="/facts/Alumina/wXM9P6pI">alumina</a> (aluminium oxide) and was developed by <a href="/facts/Carl_Josef_Bayer/RUU4TmqC">Carl Josef Bayer</a>. Bauxite, the most important ore of <a href="/facts/Aluminium/7wmR8jYE">aluminium</a>, contains only 30–60% <a href="/facts/Aluminium_oxide/wXM9P6pI">aluminium oxide</a> (Al2O3), the rest being a mixture of <a href="/facts/Silica/A3WILp6J">silica</a>, various <a href="/facts/Iron_oxide/KDo8hLWn">iron oxides</a>, and <a href="/facts/Titanium_dioxide/T0KWmKcz">titanium dioxide</a>. The aluminium oxide must be further purified before it can be refined into aluminium. </p><p>The Bayer process is also the main source of <a href="/facts/Gallium/EucevDs9">gallium</a> as a byproduct despite low extraction yields. </p>