Red Mud- Utilization, safe disposal, environmental concerns 30/07/2019 – Posted in: Daily News – Tags:

RED MUD

For: Preliminary

Topics covered: Red Mud, Red Sludge, Utilisation, safe disposal, environmental issues


 

News Flash

Government asks stakeholders to find a lasting solution for productive utilisation of red mud and its safe disposal for a cleaner future.

  • This is an environmental concern due to the presence of impurities such as caustic soda and other minerals.
  • Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC) organised a ‘Red Mud Networking Meet’.
  • Its global generation is more than 150 million tonnes.
  • In India, it is around 9 million tonnes per year.

 

Red Mud/Red Sludge

  • Red Mud is a solid waste generated during the aluminium production process.
  • It is a highly alkaline waste product composed mainly of iron oxide that is generated in the industrial production of alumina.
  • It is composed of a mixture of solid and metallic oxides.
  • The red colour arises from iron oxides, which comprise up to 60% of the mass.
  • The final red mud contains a residual level of caustic liquid (or alkalinity), with a pH of approximately 13.5.
  • In addition to iron, the other dominant components include silica, unleached residual alumina, and titanium oxide.
  • The main constituents of the residue after the extraction of the aluminium component are insoluble metallic oxides.
  • Discharge of red mud is hazardous environmentally because of its alkalinity.

 

Way forward

It is a step towards productive utilisation of bauxite residue, commonly known as the ‘Red Mud’ under ‘Waste to Wealth’ project.

 

Source: The New Indian Express

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