Utilization of red mud as a stabilization material for the preparation of clay liners

Abstract

Red mud is a waste material generated by the Bayer Process widely used to produce alumina from bauxite throughout the world. Approximately, 35% to 40% per ton of bauxite treated using the Bayer Process ends up as red mud waste. Because of storing issues, the waste negatively affects the environment. To solve this problem, it is essential to investigate different uses for red mud waste. The potential use of red mud for the preparation of stabilization material is presented in this study. This study examines the effects of red mud on the unconfined compressive strength, hydraulic conductivity, and swelling percentage of compacted clay liners as a hydraulic barrier. The test results show that compacted clay samples containing red mud and cement-red mud additives have a high compressive strength and decreased the hydraulic conductivity and swelling percentage as compared to natural clay samples. Consequently, it is concluded that red mud and cement-red mud materials can be successfully used for the stabilization of clay liners in geotechnical applications. © 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.