Bauxite residue neutralisation precipitate stability in acidic environments
Sara J. Couperthwaite A E , Sujung Han A , Talitha Santini B C D , Gurkiran Kaur A , Dean W. Johnstone A , Graeme J. Millar A and Ray L. Frost AA Chemistry, Physics, Mechanical Engineering, Science and Engineering Faculty, Queensland University of Technology, GPO Box 2434, Brisbane, Qld 4001, Australia.
B School of Geography and Earth Sciences, McMaster University, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON, L8S4K1, Canada.
C The University of Queensland, School of Geography, Planning, and Environmental Management, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia.
D The University of Queensland, Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation, St Lucia, Qld 4072, Australia.
E Corresponding author. Email: sara.couperthwaite@qut.edu.au
Environmental Chemistry 10(6) 455-464 https://doi.org/10.1071/EN13048
Submitted: 1 March 2013 Accepted: 13 October 2013 Published: 11 December 2013
Environmental context. Although land remediation programs for bauxite residues aim at vegetation coverage, the stability of compounds in the residues with acids produced by the vegetation has not been investigated. We show that, despite the instability of caustic components in the residues (negative effects on plant development), this instability actually assists in neutralising acidic soils. These results further affirm the suitability and sustainability of current land remediation programs for bauxite residues in terms of minimising acidic soil formation.
Abstract. This investigation used a combination of techniques, such as X-ray diffraction, inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectroscopy and infrared spectroscopy, to determine the dissolution mechanisms of the Bayer precipitate and the associated rate of dissolution in acetic, citric and oxalic acid environments. The Bayer precipitate is a mixture of hydrotalcite, calcium carbonate and sodium chloride that forms during the seawater neutralisation of Bayer liquors (waste residue of the alumina industry). The dissolution rate of a Bayer precipitate is found to be dependent on (1) the strength of the organic acid and (2) the number of donating H+ ions. The dissolution mechanism for a Bayer precipitate consists of several steps involving: (1) the dissolution of CaCO3, (2) formation of whewellite (calcium oxalate) when oxalic acid is used and (3) multiple dissolution steps for hydrotalcite that are highly dependent on the pH of solution. The decomposition of the Al–OH hydrotalcite layers resulted in the immediate formation of Al(OH)3, which is stable until the pH decreases below 5.5. This investigation has found that the Bayer precipitate is stable across a wide pH range in the presence of common organic acids found in the rhizosphere, and that initial decomposition steps are likely to be beneficial in supporting plant growth through the release of nutrients such as Ca2+ and Mg2+.
Additional keywords: land remediation, organic acid, red mud.
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