Approaches Regarding Red Mud Valorization for a Green Future and Sustainable Environment

Today the red mud generated from alumina production is a resource, a material that can be valorized, an opportunity. The current practice in waste management in some parts of the planet has to be revised.
We need to change technologies and become more aware and thoughtful on our footprint on Earth. Red
mud is the main waste generated from the bauxite Bayer process. Having a complex composition with
predominantly Al2O3 (14-27%), Fe2O3 (19-56%) contents, viable solutions were sought for the reuse of
the red mud. A number of applications have resulted in the recovery of metallic components, chemical
industry, and building materials industry. A field of red mud applicability, which has enabled the
development of innovative and sustainable techniques, is that of the environment. The paper presents
the results of the researches carried out in order to valorize the red mud in the treatment of two
categories of wastewater: phosphates waters and mine waters. The influence of the experimental
parameters on the pollutant removal efficiencies in these wastewaters is highlighted.