Elimination of undesirable volatile organic byproducts of an alumina process

Disclosed is a process for the elimination of volatile, foul-smelling organic compounds which are liberated in a gas suspension calciner process utilized to manufacture alumina. The process comprises recirculating captured alumina dust on which undesirable volatile organic compounds are adsorbed to a location in the manufacturing process (1) at or upstream (based on the path of the conveying gases) from the gas suspension calciner and (2) which is operating at a temperature of about 700 ° C. or higher. The adsorbed organic compounds are stripped off the alumina dust and are subsequently directed by process air into the gas suspension calciner furnace which is operating above 1000 ° C. under oxidizing conditions. Under such conditions the organic compounds are oxidized to H2O vapor and CO2. It is a preferred feature that the volatilized organic compounds are adsorbed on the alumina dust in a baghouse.