Geotechnical and Physicochemical Properties of Untreated and Treated Hazardous Bauxite Residue Red Mud

Abstract

The storage of hazardous bauxite residue mud obtained from the Bayer’s process in alumina industry leads to serious environmental impact on land, air and water. The detailed laboratory works and micro-analyses have been performed in the present paper to characterize the red mud and to investigate the effect of class F fly ash on the geotechnical properties of red mud for possible use as a construction material. The characterization of materials shows the higher value of specific gravity, liquid limit, optimum water content (OWC), maximum dry unit weight (γmax), pH value and electrical conductivity of red mud as compared to fly ash. The micro-analyses show the presence of sodalite, hematite, goethite, calcite in red mud; and mullite and quartz in fly ash as predominant minerals. Further, treatment with various fly ash contents (0–80%) has observed a significant effect on the plasticity, compaction characteristics, alkalinity and electrical conductivity of red mud.