I guess this is a sort of historical question. The DeVille process seems fairly simple. Does anybody know the history or practical reasons for the switch?
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1$\begingroup$ The reason has to be cost. I have no specific knowledge of either process but looking at the DeVille process en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deville_process and the Bayer process en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bayer_process I can see that the Deville process uses an extra calcination step and bubbles carbon dioxide. Neither process seems to adequately deal with the process waste. $\endgroup$– MaxWDec 22, 2015 at 17:33
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$\begingroup$ I think the DeVille would produce waste with a lower pH. $\endgroup$– King-InkDec 22, 2015 at 17:46
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1$\begingroup$ Related: When is Serpeck's process preferred over Bayer's process? $\endgroup$– user7951Dec 26, 2015 at 18:55
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1$\begingroup$ This looks like a promising source. I think you may have to buy it though if you want to read it. $\endgroup$– bonDec 27, 2015 at 11:15
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1$\begingroup$ I suspect the problem is that the differential step between the two processes involve calcination at high temperature for Deville vs. heating with sodium hydroxide at relatively lower temperature for Bayer. That's a huge energy and cost savings. $\endgroup$– Geoff HutchisonDec 30, 2015 at 4:58
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The product of the Bayer process is purer than that of the Deville process.
Trevor I Williams, Aluminium: latecomer to the metal industry, Endeavour, Volume 17, Issue 2, 1993, Pages 89-93
