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Leaching Study of Guinean Bauxite Tailings in aqueous HCl Solution for the Extraction of Aluminum

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  • Maria Bagani

    (School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece)

  • Dimitrios Kotsanis

    (School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece)

  • Michalis Vafeias

    (School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece)

  • Anastasia Pilichou

    (School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece)

  • Efthymios Balomenos

    (Mytilineos SA-Metallurgy Business Unit, Alumina and AluminumPlant, St. Nikolas, 32003 Paralia Distomou, Greece)

  • Dimitrios Panias

    (School of Mining and Metallurgical Engineering, National Technical University of Athens, 15780 Athens, Greece)

Abstract

Primary aluminum production is dependent on the Bayer process for Al 2 O 3 refining and the Hall–Héroult process for Al production. Both these processes face serious sustainability challenges, while the overall Al supply chain is inflexible and prone to disruptions. One solution to the aforementioned challenges is the adoption of alternative Al 2 O 3 production processes from a variety of primary and secondary raw materials. This research paper explores the potential use of bauxite tailings as an alternative secondary resource for alumina production, with an aqueous HCl process technology. Bauxite tailings are solid waste produced during the mining and beneficiation of certain bauxites before their digestion in the Bayer process. The research was conducted in two stages. Initially, 24 h trials using aqueous 5.9 M HCl solution and a 5:100 g/mL solid-to-liquid (S/L) ratio revealed complete dissolution of Al and near-complete dissolution of Fe. In the second stage, investigations involving higher S/L ratios under the same conditions confirmed that an S/L ratio of 20:100 g/mL represented the optimal parameters for bauxite tailings leaching, producing a 36.8 g/L Al and 25.2 g/L Fe concentration solutions. The PLS produced under the optimum conditions is suitable for downstream processing for the production of AlCl 3 ·6H 2 O.

Suggested Citation

  • Maria Bagani & Dimitrios Kotsanis & Michalis Vafeias & Anastasia Pilichou & Efthymios Balomenos & Dimitrios Panias, 2023. "Leaching Study of Guinean Bauxite Tailings in aqueous HCl Solution for the Extraction of Aluminum," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-18, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:15:y:2023:i:23:p:16232-:d:1286218
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Sverdrup, Harald U. & Ragnarsdottir, Kristin Vala & Koca, Deniz, 2015. "Aluminium for the future: Modelling the global production, market supply, demand, price and long term development of the global reserves," Resources, Conservation & Recycling, Elsevier, vol. 103(C), pages 139-154.
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