Abstract:The waste cathode carbon produced by aluminum electrolysis is a toxic and harmful waste. How to treat and recover the cathode carbon safely and efficiently has become the focus of research in China and abroad. In this paper, the background, main components and the impact of stacking on the environment of waste cathode carbon blocks produced by electrolytic aluminum are described, and the recycling of waste cathode carbon blocks is reviewed. The research on the recovery and utilization of waste cathode carbon blocks is mainly divided into two types, the recovery of valuable components in waste cathode carbon and the harmless treatment of waste cathode carbon for other processes. In this paper, the basic principles of recycling valuable substances in waste cathode carbon were introduced through three methods, namely physical separation method, high temperature combustion method and chemical leaching method, and the representative treatment processes, advantages and disadvantages were briefly described. The recycling direction of waste cathode carbon was analyzed and the future development of recycling technology was prospected.