| Abstract Scope |
Many publications on bauxite residue select one application and present their findings or defend a more holistic, near-zero-waste process, where variable products emerge. The work herein proposes a different approach: a main “backbone” process that differentiates only in selected unit operations while allowing a range of processing options so that a range of diverse products can be produced responding to market needs. Understandably, this is at odds with the operation of large-scale industries, where capital investment, workforce, and production capacity are all high and are only profitable exactly because of their high efficiency and mere size. Yet, this industrial example is far from agile and resilient and less able to cope with geopolitical uncertainties and market volatility. An example of such a process is presented, where metallic Fe, a new binder, and building elements are produced, from one process that branches out into individual ones, integrating energy production and storage. |