Removal of anionic ions from single material solution by bauxite tailings modified with FeCl_3·6H_2O

The adsorbabilities of the unmodified and modified bauxite tailings for Cr（Ⅵ）, As（Ⅴ） and F（Ⅰ） ions were investigated. Batch experiments were carried out to determine the removal rate as a function of adsorbent dosage, solution pH value and shaking time. The results show that the maximum removal rates of Cr（Ⅵ）, As（Ⅴ） and F（Ⅰ ） are respectively 99%, 99% and 90% by using the modified bauxite tailings. The isoelectric point of the unmodified bauxite tailings is 3.6, and that of the modified bauxite tailings is 5.0, which shifts to lower pH values in Cr（Ⅵ） solution. This indicates a specific adsorption of the anionic species on the modified bauxite railings. A new band of Cr2O72 appears in the FTIR, showing that Cr（Ⅵ） is adsorbed on the modified bauxite railings in the form of chemistry adsorption. The adsorption data of Cr（Ⅵ） on the modified bauxite tailings are well described by Freundlich model. The investigations of kinetic models show that pseudo-second-order kinetic model provides the best correlation for the experimental data.

An improved implementable process for the synthesis of zeolite 4A from bauxite tailings and its Cr^(3+) removal capacity

A simple and practical method for the synthesis of zeolite 4A from bauxite tailings is presented in this paper. Systematic investigations were carried out regarding the capacity of zeolite 4A to remove Cr（III） from aqueous solutions with relatively low initial concentrations of Cr（III）（5–100 mg·L^（-1））. It is found that the new method is extremely cost-effective and can significantly contribute in decreasing environmental pollution caused by the dumping of bauxite tailings. The Cr（III） removal capacity highly depends on the initial p H value and concentration of Cr（III） in the solution. The maximum removal capacity of Cr（III） was evaluated to be 85.1 mg×g^（-1） for zeolite 4A, measured at an initial p H value of 4 and an initial Cr（III） concentration of 5 mg·L^（-1）. This approach enables a higher removal capacity at lower concentrations of Cr（III）, which is a clear advantage over the chemical precipitation method. The removal mechanism of Cr（III） by zeolite 4A was examined. The results suggest that both ion exchange and the surface adsorption-crystallization reaction are critical steps. These two steps collectively resulted in the high removal capacity of zeolite 4A to remove Cr（III）.

Comparison of Chemical Reactivity of Bauxite-tailings Pre-and Post-calcinations and Whitening Bauxite-tailing

Bauxite-tailings is aluminosilicate wastes and is used in polymer as fillers. But its intrinsic low-whiteness has limited its large-scale application in polymeric materials. Conventional methods for whitening bauxite-tailings were ineffective. A new method, which involved reactions with phosphoric acid and calcinations, was proposed to whiten bauxite-railings. Two process routes were employed to whiten bauxite- tailings, which were pre- and post-reaction calcination. While the process of pre-reaction calcination was able to achieve a whiteness of 87% from bauxite-railings, it required high-energy post-treatment processes such as washing, milling and drying. The process of post-reaction calcination, on the other hand, resulted in an increase in whiteness of bauxite-tailings from 19% to 73%. This was achieved using 4.5% of added phosphorous, 40% acid concentration, reaction time of 2.5 hours and a calcination temperature of 600 ℃ The resultant did not require any further processing, and was therefore industrially feasible. The whitened tailings consisted of corundum, anatase, and quartz. When compared to calcined tailings, whitened tailings possessed a higher content of amorphous material, the disappearance of red iron minerals, and the emergence of a new phase of A1PO4.

Adsorption behavior of Pb^(2+) and Cd^(2+) ions on bauxite flotation tailings

The adsorption behavior of Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions on bauxite flotation tailings was investigated to demonstrate the adsorptivity of the bauxite flotation tailings.The adsorption percentage of Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions as a function of adsorbent dosage,solution pH value and shaking time were determined by batch experiments.The maximum adsorption percentage of 99.93% for Pb2+ ions and 99.75% for Cd2+ ions were obtained by using bauxite flotation tailings as adsorbent.The methods,such as zeta potentials,specific surface area measurements and the analysis of adsorption kinetics,were introduced to analyze the adsorption mechanisms of the Pb2+ ions on bauxite flotation tailings.The isoelectric point of bauxite flotation tailings shifts from 3.6 to 5.6 in the presence of Pb2+ ions.The specific surface area of bauxite flotation tailings changes from 12.57 to 20.63 m2/g after the adsorption of Pb2+ ions.These results indicate that a specific adsorption of the cation species happens on the surface of bauxite flotation tailings.Adsorption data of Pb2+ ions on the surface of bauxite flotation tailings can be well described by Langmuir model,and the pseudo-second-order kinetic model provides the best correlation for the adsorption data of Pb2+ and Cd2+ ions on bauxite flotation tailings.

Utilization of Bauxite Tailing

The characteristics of bauxite tailing in China were reviewed,and the current utilization methods and the actuality were discussed.It is found that the bauxite tailing is mainly used for production of building materials and chemical products,and extraction of useful component,etc.Meanwhile,the shortages of these utilization methods were analyzed.In order to enlarge the bauxite tailing application,some new utilization paths were proposed,such as preparing zeolite 4A and corundum-mullite composite materials,which are high value added materials.The utilization ways of bauxite tailing were widened,the utilization ratio of resources and the economic benefit were improved.