Directions for large scale utilization of bauxite residue

Abstract

Solving the problem of large-scale utilization of Bayer process bauxite residue (red mud) becomes more and more vital for an increasing number of alumina refineries around the globe. Till now, in spite of the fact that many technically sound process routes have been developed, only a few of them have been implemented due to favorable local economic and market conditions. Being a complex and poor ore for extraction of iron, alumina and titanium, treated red mud has to compete with other low cost materials; this is often uneconomic. In this paper the most promising utilization directions are discussed and focus areas for research by the world scientific community are outlined.