Research status and carbon reduction analysis of red mud in the field of building materials--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Wu, D., Zhang, H., Cheng, Y., Yu, P., & Fu, T. (2025). Research status and carbon reduction analysis of red mud in the field of building materials. Particuology, 104, 313-331. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2025.07.004

Research status and carbon reduction analysis of red mud in the field of building materials

Duo Wu^{a b}, Haoze Zhang^a, You Cheng^a, Pengjun Yu^a, Tao Fu^{a b *}

a School of Civil and Architectural Engineering, Jiangxi University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Nanchang, 330099, China
b Jiangxi Province Key Laboratory of Safety for Hydropower Engineering Structures, Jiangxi University of Water Resources and Electric Power, Nanchang, 330099, China

10.1016/j.partic.2025.07.004

Volume 104, September 2025, Pages 313-331

Received 21 April 2025, Revised 8 July 2025, Accepted 8 July 2025, Available online 16 July 2025, Version of Record 29 July 2025.

E-mail: oop482@163.com

Highlights

• Reviewed red mud applications in cement,road,brick,and composite materials.

• Proposed a framework linking red mud structure,performance,and carbon reduction.

• Explored synergy of red mud with other wastes for performance and carbon reduction.

• Discussed red mud-based composites and ML optimization as future research directions.

Abstract

Red mud, a highly alkaline industrial solid waste generated during the production of alumina, is characterized by its fine particle size and residual heavy metals. Its massive accumulation poses a serious threat to the environment and ecosystems. This paper provided a systematic review of the current research on red mud in building materials and its potential for carbon reduction. It examined the physicochemical properties of red mud and its applications in cement-based materials, road construction, building blocks, ceramics, and composite materials. Researches indicated that utilizing red mud in building materials could significantly increase its utilization while simultaneously reducing carbon emissions during production. For instance, red mud can be employed in the production of low-clinker composite cement, used to improve the water damage resistance of asphalt mixtures, and integrated to enhance the mechanical properties and durability of unfired bricks and ceramic products. Moreover, its carbon sequestration capacity offered substantial support for developing carbon-reducing building materials. Nonetheless, the large-scale application of red mud remains constrained by critical technical challenges, including high pre-treatment costs, limited performance optimization, and insufficient environmental safety assessments. This paper outlined future research directions and proposes strategies to promote the extensive utilization of red mud for carbon reduction, thereby providing a theoretical framework and technical support for the green transformation of the aluminum industry.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Red mud; Building material; Reduce carbon emission; Utilization; Performance optimization

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