Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Shaohan Wang, Huixin Jin, Yong Deng, Yuandan Xiao
Summary: In recent years, the environmental issues caused by the accumulation of red mud have become increasingly serious. Research on the comprehensive utilization of red mud is mainly focused on the fields of construction and chemical industry, environmental protection and agriculture, as well as valuable elements extraction industry. The current industrial consumption of red mud in China has been measured, and suggestions for solving the red mud problem have been proposed.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2021)
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Hongcheng Mi, Longsheng Yi, Qian Wu, Jin Xia, Binghang Zhang
Summary: This paper introduces the characteristics and state of red mud (RM) and summarizes the relevant research on its comprehensive utilization. The results show that the comprehensive utilization of RM focuses on building material preparation, valuable metal extraction, catalyst synthesis, and environmental protection. The paper also discusses the existing problems and proposes prospects and suggestions for different utilization methods of RM.
WASTE MANAGEMENT & RESEARCH
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Ankita Naykodi, Saurabh C. Patankar, Bhaskar N. Thorat
Summary: The mining industry has played a vital role in advancing innovation, flexibility, and comfort in human life. However, the increasing amount of mining and associated industrial waste has raised concerns, emphasizing the need for proper management and safe disposal. Developing targeted technologies to utilize mining and industrial waste as secondary resources is crucial for sustainable mining operations. The review focuses on the case of alkaline bauxite residue (red mud)-alumina refinery waste and explores the potential of alkaliphile-assisted biomining as a sustainable alternative to conventional metal recovery processes. The study highlights the unique adaptation strategies of alkaliphiles in biomining red mud through bioleaching, biosorption, and bioaccumulation. It also emphasizes the importance of studying the indigenous alkaliphiles from red mud for industrial-scale application of alkaliphile-based technology.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Wei Zhang, Xiaoming Liu, Yaguang Wang, Zepeng Li, Yong Li, Yongyu Ren
Summary: The study found that the RMC composed of RM and OPC has high compressive strength and Na+ consolidation rate, with the binary reaction playing a promoting role in its mechanical properties. By optimizing the material composition ratio and process conditions, the mechanical performance and Na+ resistance of RMC materials can be improved.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Xiaolin Pan, Hongfei Wu, Zhongyang Lv, Haiyan Yu, Ganfeng Tu
Summary: Red mud, as a high alkalinity bulk solid waste, not only occupies a large amount of land and requires high maintenance costs, but also poses serious hazards to the surrounding ecological environment. In recent decades, the sustainable utilization of red mud, especially for the recovery of valuable metals, has been widely investigated. This paper systematically summarizes the research status of recycling valuable metals from red mud, introduces the technical principles and characteristics of various recovery processes, and discusses the future development directions of sustainable utilization.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Wenlu Chen, Yanming Ding, Bin Li, Mengqi Zhao, Changhai Li, Yuyong Jiao
Summary: Red mud is an industrial waste from alumina refining process that not only occupies land resources but also pollutes the environment. Understanding its pyrolysis characteristics and kinetics is crucial for its proper disposal. Through experiments and modeling, three stages of red mud pyrolysis and their corresponding reaction mechanisms were identified. These findings are of great importance for co-pyrolysis or co-combustion of red mud.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Zengqing Sun, Qingyu Tang, Buhle Sinaye Xakalashe, Xiaohui Fan, Min Gan, Xuling Chen, Zhiyun Ji, Xiaoxian Huang, Bernd Friedrich
Summary: Efforts have been made to produce feasible red mud geopolymers as construction material, but their environmental compatibility has not been clearly investigated. This study explores the release characteristics of various chemical components from red mud geopolymers and reveals that some of these components exceed the environmental regulatory limits in certain cases.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Chao-qiang Wang, Shen Chen, De-ming Huang, Qi-cong Huang, Xiang-qian Li, Zhong-he Shui
Summary: This study investigated the synergistic activity enhancement effect of solid waste on the macroscopic properties and internal microstructure of RMPS. The optimal ratios of cementitious materials and ceramic aggregate were determined. The results showed that the prepared materials met the strength requirements for road water-stable layers. Risk assessment of heavy metals in RMPS indicated high pollution risk for Hg and carcinogenic effects for Cr, and limit values were proposed to ensure the safety and environmental protection of RMPS.
CONSTRUCTION AND BUILDING MATERIALS
(2023)
Article
Metallurgy & Metallurgical Engineering
M. Archambo, S. K. Kawatra
Summary: Red mud is hazardous waste with a high generation rate and global stockpile. It is often disposed in environmentally harmful ways, but methods like CO(2) neutralization can reduce its impact. Innovative processes like the iron nugget method can extract valuable minerals from red mud and provide value to the waste.
MINERAL PROCESSING AND EXTRACTIVE METALLURGY REVIEW
(2021)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Xiuzhen Zhang, Zhichao Liu, Fazhou Wang, Shuguang Hu
Summary: As a by-product of the alumina industry, red mud has caused serious environmental issues, but its disposal and utilization are restricted by its alkalinity. This study compares the dealkalization behaviors of red mud using CO2 and SO2. Results show that the removal of structural alkali is crucial for improving the dealkalization efficiency. CO2 has a limited effect on structural alkali, resulting in a low dealkalization efficiency of 18.4%. SO2, on the other hand, removes both soluble and structural alkalis, achieving a dealkalization efficiency of 95.5%.
JOURNAL OF CLEANER PRODUCTION
(2023)
Article
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Guotao Zhou, Yilin Wang, Tiangui Qi, Qiusheng Zhou, Guihua Liu, Zhihong Peng, Xiaobin Li
Summary: This study investigates a combined low-temperature sodium salt-assisted roasting and water leaching process as a cleaning method for Al-goethite-containing red mud (AGRM). The results show that the addition of sodium hydroxide promotes the conversion of Al-goethite to Al-hematite, leading to increased aluminum leaching rate and iron mineral enrichment in the leaching residue. The findings suggest that this method can achieve almost zero-waste discharge of AGRM from the Bayer process.
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE METALLURGY
(2022)
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Yuan Dan Xiao, Hui Xin Jin, Mei Long Wang, Yu Liang Guo
Summary: This study summarizes the current status of the co-utilization of red mud and phosphogypsum in the fields of building materials, agriculture, environmental protection, and transportation, and emphasizes the importance of developing technologies for high value-added products.
JOURNAL OF SUSTAINABLE METALLURGY
(2022)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Chen Song, Caifu Li, Dan Zhu, Wenbin Chen, Lun Ai, Neng Huang, Li Yang, Chuwen Guo, Fang Liu
Summary: This study proposes a comprehensive method for the treatment and reuse of industrial waste, such as sewage sludge and red mud. By using red mud as an oxygen carrier, sewage sludge as fuel, and low-concentration methane as an oxidizing gas, the study demonstrates efficient recycling of these wastes. The results show high treatment efficiency and reuse effectiveness under specific temperature and gas proportions.
Review
Chemistry, Physical
Sneha Samal
Summary: This review presents the potential utilization of red mud as a resource for valuable metal recovery. While many studies have shown promising results, most of them are limited to lab-scale, indicating a need for large-scale investigations. Establishing in-house metal recovery facilities in collaboration with the alumina industry could lead to cost-benefit analysis.
Review
Geochemistry & Geophysics
Xiao-Fei Li, Ting-An Zhang, Guo-Zhi Lv, Kun Wang, Song Wang
Summary: Red mud is a highly alkaline solid waste generated in the alumina production process, which is mainly stored in dams, posing a great environmental hazard. It is a global technical challenge to find large-scale utilization methods for red mud.