Properties, hazards and valuable metal recovery technologies of red mud: A review--颗粒学报PARTICUOLOGY

Du, P., Wang, P., Zhang, X., Wen, G., & Wang, Y. (2024). Properties, hazards and valuable metal recovery technologies of red mud: A review. Particuology, 93, 328-348. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.partic.2024.07.010

Properties, hazards and valuable metal recovery technologies of red mud: A review

Peixin Du¹, Peng Wang¹, Xueqian Zhang^*, Guangwu Wen, Yishan Wang^*

School of Materials Science and Engineering, Shandong University of Technology, Zibo, 255000, China

10.1016/j.partic.2024.07.010

Volume 93, October 2024, Pages 328-348

Received 18 June 2024, Revised 15 July 2024, Accepted 15 July 2024, Available online 27 July 2024, Version of Record 3 August 2024.

E-mail: zhangxueqian@sdut.edu.cn; wyslg@sdut.edu.cn

Highlights

• Red mud is a hazardous solid waste generated by the alumina industry.

• Review covers the nature, composition and environmental hazards of red mud.

• Recovery of valuable metals from red mud is discussed.

• Numerous relevant studies are cited to investigate feasibility of recovering valent metals from red mud.

• Advantages and disadvantages of the various methods were analyzed.

Abstract

This review presents a summary of the research conducted thus far on the recovery of various types of valuable metals from red mud. The composition, properties, environmental hazards, and current status of comprehensive utilization of red mud were studied. A number of studies have been conducted on the use of red mud as a modifying additive for cement, the development of various catalysts based on red mud, and the recovery of various valuable metals from red mud. Furthermore, we examine several techniques for extracting various types of valuable metals from red mud, including pyrometallurgical recovery, wet leaching recovery, and emerging biobased technology recovery. We investigate the underlying principles, processes, research progress, and the potential for industrial application of these methods, and assess the advantages and disadvantages of each from the perspectives of economic and environmental benefits. Although these methods have certain disadvantages, in general, the recovery of various types of valuable metals from red mud is an effective way to solve the problem of red mud and the supply of metal raw materials. In conclusion, this paper presents an overview of the current state of red mud development and utilization, as well as the various methods employed for the recovery of valuable metals from red mud.

Graphical abstract

Keywords

Red mud; Utilization; Environment hazard; Valuable metal; Recovery

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