Boehmite

An aluminium oxide hydroxide mineral (AlOOH) representing one of the three principal aluminium-bearing phases in bauxite ore, alongside gibbsite and diaspore. Boehmite requires higher digestion temperatures and pressures to dissolve in caustic soda during the Bayer process compared to gibbsite, increasing refinery energy consumption and operating costs. Bauxite deposits with high boehmite content are generally less preferred for conventional Bayer process refineries unless specifically designed to handle this mineralogy. Boehmite content is a key bauxite characterisation parameter.