The characterization of a bauxite waste from the Bayer process

Abstract

The Bayer process for the alumina from bauxite produce a high quantity of waste in the form of mud. This waste -red mud- present serious problems on environmental pollution. A possible solution for these wastes would be the utilization at the ceramic industry. Because of this, the characterization of a bauxite waste has been performed using various techniques. The particle size distribution lied between 1 and 30 $\mu m$. The mean density was 2.85 g.cm3. The total weight loss was found as 7,07 % at 900°C from TG and DTG curves. The results of XRD investigations showed that the red mud consist of hematite and sodium aluminium silicate hydrate crystalline phases.