Migration of Alkaline Constituents and Restoration Evaluation in Bauxite Residue Disposal Areas

Abstract

Bauxite residue is a highly alkaline waste from alumina refining, and is mainly disposed by stacking with high environmental risks. Here, the migration of alkaline constituents and the restoration evaluation with phosphogypsum were discussed by soil column experiments to investigate the alkaline regulation in bauxite residue disposal areas (BRDAs). The pH, free alkali, exchangeable sodium in the top layer (0-25 cm depth) covered with BR and phosphogypsum mixtures were reduced from 10.89 ± 0.02, 285.45 ± 21.15 mmol/kg, 385.63 ± 30.34 mg/kg to 9.00 ± 0.50, 12.50 ± 1.50 mmol/kg, 97.00 ± 10.50 mg/kg. For the sublayers, including depths of 35, 45, 55 cm, these values dropped to 9.86, 10.06, 10.03; 38.23, 86.12, 148.00 mmol/kg; 152.90, 246.00, 305.00 mg/kg, respectively. These results indicated alkaline indicators for phosphogypsum amended BR declined dramatically, and the parameters for sublayers were also decreased due to the migration of alkaline constituents. The physicochemical properties for amended BR could meet the conditions for plant growth. This research provided a reference for alkalinity regulation in BRDAs by phosphogypsum.

Keywords: Alkalinity; Bauxite residue; Restoration evaluation; Simulated soil column; Soil formation.