Electro-Membrane Technology for Extraction of Valuable Compounds and Rare Earth Elements from the Red Mud

Abstract

The paper is devoted to the developed technology of treatment of red mud, a dangerous waste formed in the process of production of aluminum from bauxite ores by the Bayer process. The technology was examined on the samples of red mud from Russia and Iran aluminum plants. Detailed description of the process is presented. The chemical analysis data before and after the treatment are presented. It is shown that the new technology based on the use of electro-membrane apparatuses makes possible to neutralize the hazardous red mud with separate production of valuable compounds including rare earth metals. Several schemes of the process are presented.