Test and research on red mud used in bauxite washing mud solidification

Abstract

Bauxite washing mud is the high water content and strong fluidity material. After being dehydrated to water content of less than 40% with dehydrating agent, it is still in a flow-plastic state. In order to eliminate the potential safety hazards of washing mud pond, it can be solidified. In order to solidify Pingguo bauxite washing mud, Preparated of curing agent with red mud, cement, fly ash and desulfurization gypsum, then added into the washing mud at a weight ratio of 10% of the dry amount of the washing mud. This study shown that after adding curing agents, the water content of the washing mud is further reduced, the liquid limit and plastic limit are further increased, the particle size is increased, and the plastic state is changed to a hard state, which greatly reduces the safety hazards of the washing mud pond. Through the screening test of curing agent, this study found that the reasonable and effective curing agent formula is: 15% fly ash, 25% cement, 15% gypsum, 45% red mud, the liquid limit index of the cured material is reduced to -0.27, which is in a hard state, the clay washing mud was changed to clay loam, which is suitable for dry tailings storage.