Field Evaluation of Bauxite Residue Neutralization by Carbon Dioxide, Vegetation, and Organic Amendments
Publication: Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 136, Issue 10
Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the mechanisms and extent of bauxite residue (red mud) neutralization at the residue surface in field impoundments as a result of long-term reaction with atmospheric and addition of amendments to promote vegetation. The results showed that carbonation from atmospheric carbon dioxide reduces the pH of red mud from 12.5 to about pH 9.3 at the surface of storage cells, with the depth of neutralization dependent on the age of the stored residue (up to 1.2 m in 35 years). The presence of vegetation further lowered residue pH to about pH 8.5, with the depth of neutralization dependent on depth of root penetration. Sewage and yard-waste amendments accelerated neutralization and the establishment of vegetation and further lowered the residue pH to about pH 6.7, likely due to organic acid leaching. For vegetated areas, the root density (g roots/g soil) was proportional to the extent of neutralization of residue, with root density higher in near-surface residue than in deeper residue.
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Acknowledgments
This project was supported by the National Science Foundation (Grant No. NSFBES-0329424) and by Alcoa, Inc., Pittsburgh. The writers thank John Smith and Dennis Fulmer of Alcoa for providing samples, data, and information about bauxite residue. Field sampling was supported by Matt Wickham and Lindsey Huang from PBW LLC, Port Lavaca, Tex. and Gray Keene of Alcoa. Root length measurements were made with assistance from Dr. Jonathan Lynch and his student Raul Jaramillo at Department of Horticulture, Pennsylvania State University.
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Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Journal of Environmental Engineering
Volume 136 • Issue 10 • October 2010
Pages: 1045 - 1053
Copyright
© 2010 ASCE.
History
Received: Aug 20, 2009
Accepted: Jan 27, 2010
Published online: Jan 29, 2010
Published in print: Oct 2010
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