| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2025 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Bauxite Residue Valorization and Best Practices
|
| Presentation Title |
Optimising Bauxite Residue for Use as a Soil Component |
| Author(s) |
Markus Graefe, Lucky Zaman, Virender Kumar, Steven P. Rosenberg |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Markus Graefe |
| Abstract Scope |
Soil, in the context of the United Arab Emirates, is an attractive option for bauxite residue usage, because the sandy nature of the native soils lacks water and fertilizer retention capacities, while the climatic conditions of the region impart water scarcity, excessive evaporation rates and solar radiation. The challenge of economically converting bauxite residue, directly from the refinery, into a usable soil substrate material was addressed through in-house and commissioned research at international universities. In August 2023, EGA began producing 80 kg per week of optimized bauxite residue (OBxR) with a pH < 8.0 and an EC < 1.0 mS/cm at Al Taweelah alumina refinery’s first residue-related pilot plant, the Small Soil Manufacturing & Research Facility (SSMRF). We have since produced 30 tonnes of OBxR and installed two demonstration plots. Our presentation provides insights into the process chemistry nature of OBxR, and the performance of EGA’s Turba (Arab. soil). |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: TMS Journal: Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy |
| Keywords |
Hydrometallurgy, Other, Sustainability |