Desulfurization gypsum, the byproduct from wet flue gas
desulfurization,
and red mud, from the production of aluminum oxide, are two bulk industrial
solid wastes that trigger many local environmental problems in China.
This study aims to jointly utilize them. Through experimentation and
modeling using FactSage, it has been found to be feasible to prepare
sulfoaluminate cement using these wastes. The calcination temperature
in the preparation was as low as 1250–1300 °C, and the
main mineral phases of the cement clinker were 3CaO·3Al2O3, CaSO4, β-2CaO·SiO2, and 2CaO·Fe2O3. The cement clinkers
tested showed excellent mechanical strength performances. This process
was found to be an efficient way to consume industrial solid wastes,
with the total proportion of desulfurization gypsum and red mud over
70–90% by mass in the raw materials. The sulfoaluminate cement
products have outstanding cost superiority over Portland cement because
of their low material costs, low material pretreatment costs, and
low calcination temperature. Moreover, this technology could bring
about immense environmental and social benefits in terms of waste
consumption, energy conservation, and CO2 reductions. This
technology has considerable prospects, and it is worth undertaking
further research into its potential applications.