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Extraction and Utilization of Valuable Elements from Bauxite and Bauxite Residue: A Review

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Abstract

Bauxite is the ideal raw material for the manufacturing of alumina. Aside from the primary constituents of aluminum and silicon, bauxite is frequently coupled with many valuable elements such as gallium (Ga), titanium (Ti), scandium (Sc), and lithium (Li). The bauxite residue and circulating spent liquor in alumina production typically include significant amounts of valuable elements, making them a potential source of polymetallic. The recovery of these essential components can greatly increase alumina manufacturing process efficiency while reducing industrial liability and environmental impact. This study gives a critical analysis of existing technology used to recover valuable elements from bauxite residue and circulating spent liquor to provide insight into the broader usage of bauxite residue as a resource rather than a waste. A comparison of existing process features demonstrates that an integrated process for valuable elements recovery and waste emission reduction is advantageous.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No. 51874078), the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of China (Grant No. N2025038).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Key Laboratory of Ecological Metallurgy of Multi-Metal Intergrown Ores of Ministry of Education, Special Metallurgy and Process Engineering Institute, School of Metallurgy, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China

    Yang Chen, Ting-an Zhang, Guozhi Lv, Xi Chao & Xuewei Yang

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  1. Yang Chen
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  2. Ting-an Zhang
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Correspondence to Ting-an Zhang.

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Chen, Y., Zhang, Ta., Lv, G. et al. Extraction and Utilization of Valuable Elements from Bauxite and Bauxite Residue: A Review. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol 109, 228–237 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00128-022-03502-w

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