Alkaline Roasting of a Red Mud–Sodium Carbonate Mixture After Milling

Document Type : Research - Paper

Authors

1 M.Sc Student, Dept. of Materials Engineering, School of Engineering, Yasouj University,Yasouj, Iran

2 Associate Professor, Dept. of Materials Engineering, School of Engineering, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran

3 Assistant Professor, Dept. of Materials Engineering, School of Engineering, Yasouj University, Yasouj, Iran

Abstract

After preparing a red mud sample from Iran Alumina Company (Jajarm) and determining its parameters, the chemical analysis and phase evaluations were undertaken using XRF and XRD methods. Mechanical milling of red mud-sodium carbonate mixtures was done for 15 minutes, 2 and 5 hours. STA analysis of the red mud sample and as-milled mixtures was undertaken under an air atmosphere up to 900 ºC with a heating rate of 20 ºC/min. The results showed the mass loss of red mud is about 13.25%, whilst it is in the range of 23-26% for milled mixtures. The alkaline roasting was done by heating the mixtures at the temperature range of 600-900 ºC under an air atmosphere for one hour. The traces of NaAlO2, NaAlSiO4 and NaFeO2 phases were observed in the XRD patterns of the alkaline roasted samples. The signs of these phases were not observed in the milled mixtures of red mud-sodium carbonate; however the peak broadening and disappearing of the signs of sodium carbonate were the major events with increasing the milling time. Leaching of the alkaline roasted samples with water at 80 ºC for 60 minutes resulted in the dissolution of NaAlO2 phase, and the traces of this phase are not observed in the solid residues after leaching. The iron concentration was trace in the leached solutions by the AAS method. The results indicated that alkaline roasting of red mud with sodium carbonate, followed by dissolving the roasted solid products in water, makes it possible to separate the contained aluminium from iron and iron compounds.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

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History

  • Receive Date: 03 June 2025
  • Revise Date: 13 December 2025
  • Accept Date: 03 September 2025

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