| About this Abstract |
| Meeting |
2025 TMS Annual Meeting & Exhibition
|
| Symposium
|
Bauxite Residue Valorization and Best Practices
|
| Presentation Title |
Assessment of High Temperature Valorisation Routes for Bauxite Residue towards Cementitious Binders: A Case Study on Vitrification |
| Author(s) |
Michiel Giels, Tobias Hertel, Glenn Beersaerts, Yiannis Pontikes |
| On-Site Speaker (Planned) |
Michiel Giels |
| Abstract Scope |
Bauxite residue (BR) holds significant potential for use in the construction industry due to its widespread availability. However, BR derived from the Bayer process often lacks the reactivity necessary for cementitious applications, such as hydraulic/pozzolanic activity. To enhance its reactivity, BR can undergo heat treatment processes including calcination (<1000°C), partial vitrification (1100–1300°C), or smelting combined with iron extraction (1500–1700°C). Recent research has demonstrated the feasibility of vitrification of BR at laboratory and pilot scales, but questions persist regarding its sustainability at an industrial scale. This study comprehensively reviews the entire process chain, starting from BR pre-processing to vitrified BR, and examines its utilization as supplementary cementitious material (SCM) in blended cement. Key bottlenecks in the processes are identified and evaluated critically. Finally, pathways are put forward for developing sustainable heating and binder technologies applicable to all processes requiring heat treatment for BR valorization. |
| Proceedings Inclusion? |
Planned: TMS Journal: Journal of Sustainable Metallurgy |
| Keywords |
Pyrometallurgy, Recycling and Secondary Recovery, Aluminum |