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Mud2Metal: Lessons Learned on the Path for Complete Utilization of Bauxite Residue Through Industrial Symbiosis

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Abstract

A new concept for a holistic exploitation of the bauxite residue (BR) is presented, where a multitude of niche and bulk application products are produced, leading to a near zero-waste, financially viable, and environmentally benign process. Based on the combination of recent research results, the “Mud2Metal” conceptual flow sheet was developed in order to produce added value products rationalizing BR sustainable valorization. The Mud2Metal flow sheet is analyzed technologically, environmentally, and economically, addressing the challenges and the effects of each processing step, for the case of the Greek BR. The Mud2Metal flow sheet is focused on the selective removal of rare earth elements, the subsequent production of pig iron for the iron and steel industry, and the valorization of the residual slag’s engineered mineral matrix into a variety of building materials. Based on further technological innovation and flow sheet integration/optimization, the plant operation could become economically profitable for the alumina industry, environmentally benign, and socially acceptable; in one word: sustainable.

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Acknowledgements

The research leading to these results has received funding from the European Community’s Seventh Framework Programme ([FP7/2007‐2013]) under Grant Agreements No. 309373 (EURARE www.eurare.eu) and No. 249710 (ENEXAL www.labmet.ntua.gr/enexal). This publication reflects only the authors’ view, exempting the Community from any liability.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Aluminium of Greece, Ag. Nikolaos Plant, Viotia, Greece

    Efthymios Balomenos

  2. School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, NTUA, 15780, Zografou, Greece

    Efthymios Balomenos, Panagiotis Davris & Dimitrios Panias

  3. Department of Materials Engineering, KU Leuven, 3001, Leuven, Belgium

    Yiannis Pontikes

Authors
  1. Efthymios Balomenos
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  2. Panagiotis Davris
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  3. Yiannis Pontikes
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  4. Dimitrios Panias
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Correspondence to Efthymios Balomenos.

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The contributing editor for this article was Bernd Friedrich.

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Balomenos, E., Davris, P., Pontikes, Y. et al. Mud2Metal: Lessons Learned on the Path for Complete Utilization of Bauxite Residue Through Industrial Symbiosis. J. Sustain. Metall. 3, 551–560 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40831-016-0110-4

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