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Revealing the alkaline characteristic evolution of bauxite residue under biomass fermentation

  • Biochar and Agricultural Sustainability (SI APBC 2018)
  • Published:
Journal of Soils and Sediments Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose

Biomass fermentation has been proposed as a simple and economical strategy to alleviate the high alkalinity of bauxite residue. This study investigates the neutralization of bauxite residue following the application of biomass as an alkali modifier by natural fermentation.

Materials and methods

Fresh bauxite residue samples were collected from Pingguo refinery (Aluminum Corporation of China). Samples were treated with straw mulching (SC), straw mixing (SM), bagasse mulching (BC), and bagasse mixing (BM), respectively. Treatments were analyzed for pH, EC, metal cations, and soluble alkali (OH−, Al(OH)4− and CO32−). The mineral phase and Na speciation were analyzed by X-ray diffraction (XRD) and near-edge X-ray absorption fine structure (Na-XANES).

Results and discussion

Optimum application rate for either straw or bagasse was 20% (w/w), reducing leachate pH from 10.26 to 8.56. During biomass transformation, the alkaline mineral grossular was completely dissolved, while calcite and cancrinite were dissolved to a lesser degree. No treatment changed the spatial distribution of Na+, but the basic anions (OH−, CO32−, and Al(OH)4−) were significantly reduced.

Conclusions

Following treatment application, soluble alkali in the residues was significantly reduced while the alkaline minerals were slightly dissolved. This was determined as the main cause for the decrease in residue pH.

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Funding

This work was supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant Nos. 41877511 and 41701587) and the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities of Central South University.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, Changsha, 410083, China

    Chuan Wu, Chuxuan Li, Jun Jiang, Xiangfeng Kong, Yujun Wu & Shengguo Xue

  2. Crop and Environment Sciences Department, Harper Adams University, Newport, Shropshire, TF10 8NB, UK

    William Hartley

Authors
  1. Chuan Wu
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  2. Chuxuan Li
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  3. Jun Jiang
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  4. William Hartley
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  5. Xiangfeng Kong
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  6. Yujun Wu
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  7. Shengguo Xue
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Correspondence to Jun Jiang or Shengguo Xue.

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Responsible editor: Yongfu Li

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Wu, C., Li, C., Jiang, J. et al. Revealing the alkaline characteristic evolution of bauxite residue under biomass fermentation. J Soils Sediments 20, 3083–3090 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11368-019-02482-5

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