All processes are used in Aluminium metallurgy but the Hoopes process is a metallurgical process, used to obtain the aluminium metal of very high purity. The Bayer process is the principal industrial means of refining bauxite to produce alumina (aluminium oxide).

The Hall-Héroult process is the major industrial process for smelting aluminium.

Serpeck's process is used for the purification of bauxite ore containing silica as the main impurity