Abstract: The feasibility of aluminum recovery from secondary aluminum dross by extraction with NaOH solution and the subsequent synthesis of MgAl₂O₄ spinel by sintering the extracted slag were studied. The extraction percentage of soluble aluminum from the dross reached 80% at a temperature of 353 K, liquid-to-solid ratio of 12 mL·g^-1, stirring speed of 300 r·min^-1, and an extraction time of 15 min; the hydrolysis percentage of AlN reached 40% with an extraction time of 30 min. The activation energies of the soluble aluminum and AlN extracted from the dross were 7.15 and 8.98 kJ·mol^-1, respectively, indicating that their kinetics were controlled by outer diffusion without a product layer. The extracted slag was sintered in the temperature range 1373-1773 K; MgAl₂O₄ spinel with a compressive strength as high as 69.4 MPa was produced in the sample sintered at 1673 K for 3 h. This value exceeds the threshold (40 MPa) prescribed by the National Standard for the Magnesia and Magnesia-alumina Refractory Bricks of China (GB/T 2275-2007). These results establish the effectiveness of aluminum recovery from secondary aluminum dross and subsequent MgAl₂O₄ spinel synthesis.