Red mud: Characteristics, utilization, and environmental remediation strategies in the aluminium industry

Abstract

Aluminium plants generate a substance identified as red mud, which is an alkaline atrophy product. As the aluminium industry expands, the accumulation of red mud has become a more pressing concern. Various atrophy treatment technologies have been developed to utilize red mud as a material for environmental remediation. These substances, also identified as Red Mud Ecological Rehabilitation Ingredients (RM-ERMs), are created by stimulating red mud, fusing it in a complementary manner with additional compounds, or removing useful components from it. RM-ERMs find application in three main areas: purifying wastewater, treating atrophy gases, and remediating soil. The extremely alkaline nature of red mud is harnessed in the making of RM-ERMs, offering a window to perk up the environment through purification methods. The utility of RM-ERMs has shown promise as a potential method for simultaneously addressing various types of waste. This review provides an introduction to the physical and chemical characteristics of red mud, and summarizes the active mechanism of RM-ERMs in addressing specific contaminants in wastewater, atrophy gases, and soil. Additionally, a review of current challenges in the field of RM-ERMs offers crucial insights and recommendations for future research in this area.