Coal fly ash, an industrial by-product, is derived from coal combustion in thermal power plants. It is one of the most complex and abundant of anthropogenic materials, and its improper disposal has become an environmental concern and resulted in a waste of recoverable resources. Coal fly ash is rich in alumina, making it a potential substitute for bauxite. With the diminishing reserves of bauxite resources as well as the increasing demand for alumina, recovering alumina from fly ash has attracted extensive attentions. The present review first describes the alumina recovery history and technologies, and then focuses on the recovery status in China. Finally, the current status of fly ash recycling and directions for future research are considered. (C) 2013 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.