Abstract
Calcium sulphate dihydrate (CaSO4·2H2O) (gypsum) is often used as an amendment to improve soil structure. As this treatment eventually increases soil strength, thereby exacerbating conditions for root growth, reclamation of red mud tailings using this treatment can become counterproductive. Several years (7) after lithification by added gypsum, the effect of crushing, and added phyto-organics, on some physical properties of red mud wastes (RMW) was examined under laboratory conditions. It was hypothesized that mechanically breaking up the hardened masses would increase their permeability. However, on the contrary, crushing these rock-hard masses into 2-mm particles did not increase permeability. A phyto-organic treatment on the other hand greatly improved permeability of the crushed entities such that infiltration rates increased from 0 to 10 cm/h. After 24 weeks of incubation, the structure of the newly formed phyto-organically treated gypsum-hardened RMW aggregates was also substantially improved over that of the controls, as a 3-fold increase in resistance to disintegration during wet sieving was exhibited by the phyto-organically treated samples. The increase in water infiltration by combining crushing with phyto-organic infusions was ascribed to a decrease in particle dispersion, creating more stable clay clusters, which in turn stabilized micro channels and pores. This treatment increased the plant-growth-medium potential of the age-hardened gypsum-treated red muds, thereby justifying prior atmospheric carbonation and lithification of the red muds. Conversely, it was concluded that the singular crushing of CGR in the waste dumps to create a growth medium is potentially wasteful and ineffective. However, as CGR was seemingly of greater durability than soft limestone marl, it promises effectiveness as a stable road-bed material.
Original article: Structural improvement of age-hardened gypsum-treated bauxite red mud waste using readily decomposable phyto-organics. Environmental Geology, Volume 56, No. 8, February 2009.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Access this chapter
Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout
Purchases are for personal use only
References
Abrol IP, Dahiya IS (1974) Flow-associated precipitation reactions in saline-sodic soils and their significance. Geoderma 11:305–312
Ahmad R (1995) Landslides in Jamaica: extent, significance and geologic zonation. In: Barker D, Mcgregor DFM (eds) Environment and development in the Caribbean. Geographical perspectives. The Press, University of the West Indies, Barbados, pp 147–169
Ahmad R, Jerome D, James PM (1999) Landslide loss reduction: a guide for the Kingston metropilitan area, Jamaica. Unit for Disaster Studies, Department of Geography and Geology, The University of the West Indies, Jamaica, UDS Publication no. 6
Air Assessments (2004) Pinjarra Alumina Refinery (2007) efficiency upgrade dust management plan for the residue disposal area Alcoa world alumina Australia https://www.alcoa.com/…/Dust_Management_Plan_FINAL_Feb_07.pdf. Accessed 5 June 2015
Alcoa (2004) Air Assessments, 2004
Bardossy G (1982) Karst bauxites. Elsevier Scientific Publishing Co, Amsterdam
Corbett J (1969) the living soil: the processes of soil formation. Martindale Press for the Geography Teachers’ Association of N.S.W., West Cono, N.S.W.
Evans (2011) EAA—Ref: bauxite residue mgmt.: best practice, Apr 2013. European Aluminium Association. www.world-aluminium.org
FAO (2014) Sodic soils and their management (www.fao.org/docrep/x5871e/x5871e05.htm). Accessed 2 June 2015
Glenister DJ, Thornber MR (1995) Alkalinity of red mud and its applications for management of acid wastes. Chemica (85):100–113 (41)
Goldberg S, Glaubig RA (1987) Effect of saturating cation, pH, and aluminium and iron oxides on the flocculation of kaolinite and montmorillonite clay. Clay Miner 35:220–227
Graham GA, Fawkes R (1992) Red muds disposal management at QAL. In: Proceedings of An international bauxite tailings workshop, Pereth, Western Australia. Australian Bauxite and Alumina Producers
Greenberg WA, Wilding LP, Daniel MC, Sylvan C (1996) Infiltration and erosion potential on reclaimed bauxite mine lands in Jamaica. http://natres.psu.ac.th/Link/SoilCongress/bdd/symp38/1277-t.pdf
Gupta RK, Bhumbla DK, Abrol ID (1984) Sodium-calcium exchange equilibria in soils as affected by calcium carbonate and organic matter. Soil Sci 138: 109–114
Hanahan C, McConchie D, Pohl J, Creelman R, Clark M (2004) Stocksiek C chemistry of seawater neutralization of bauxite refining residues (red mud). Environ Eng Sci 21:125–138
Harris MA (2001) The effect of sewage sludge and green manure onthe erodibility of two mine tailings materials. Environ Geol 40(11/12):1352–1367
Harris MA (2008) Structural improvement of age-hardened gypsum-treated red mud wastes using readily decomposable phyto-organics. Environ Earth Sci 56(8):1517–1522. DOI: 10.1007/s00254-008-1249-5
Harris M (2012) NCU scientist points to recognised solution for alumina dumps. Daily Observer February 11 2013
Harris MA, Rengasamy P (2004) Sodium affected subsoils, gypsum, and green manure: interactions and implications for amelioration of toxic red mud wastes. Environ Geol 45(8):1118–1130
Harris MA, Evans J (2007) Personal observation of Kirkvine Pond 6. RPS Consultants observation trip to Kirkvine with Northern Caribbean University (NCU)
Harris M, Evans J, Panton C, Wright V (2005) On the rejuvination of the o’callagahn topsoil-free growth experiment at Kirkvine Pond 6, Jamaica. RPS Consultants Conference, Terra Nova Hotel, Kingston Jamaica 2005
Hillel D (1982) Applications of soil physics. Academic Press, New York
Hira GS, Jalota SK, Arora VK (2004) Efficient Management of Water Resources for Sustainable Cropping in Punjab. Department of Soils, Punjab Agricultural University, Ludhiana
Lyew-Ayee PA, Stephan TL (2008). In: Archaeology and geoinformatics: case studies from the Caribbean edited by Basil A. Reid. University of Alabama Press. eISBN: 978-0-8173-8053-3
Lyew-Ayee PA, Persaud SD, Evans KA (2011) ICSOBA international seminar on bauxite residue
Mage SM, Porder S (2012) Parent material and topography determine soil phosphorus status in the Luquillo Mountains of Puerto Rico. Ecosystems. Springer Science & Business Media, New York. doi:10.1007/s10021.012.9612.5
Meteorological Office of Kingston Jamaica (2006). The hurricanes of 2005. www.metservice.gov.jm. Accessed April 3, 2016
O’Callaghan WB, McDonald SC, Richards DM, Reid RE (1998) Development of a topsoil-free vegetative cover on a former red mud disposal site. Alcan Jamaica Rehabilitaion Project Paper
Oster JD, Frenkel H (1980) The chemistry of the reclamation of sodic soils with gypsum and lime. Soil Science Society of America Journal. 44(1): 41–45. doi: 10.2136/sssaj1980.03615995004400010010x
Oster JD (1982) Gypsum use in irrigated agriculture—a review. Fert Res 3:73–83
Quirk JP, Schofield RK (1955) The effect of electrolyte concentration on soil permeability. J Soil Sci 6:163–178
Rengasamy P, Olsson K (1993) Irrigation and sodicity. Aust J Soil Res 31:821–837
Rengasamy P, Greene SRB, Ford GW, Mehanni AH (1984) Identification of dispersive behavior and the management of red-brown soils. Aust J Soil Res 22:413–431
Rout SK, Sahoo T, Das SK (2013) Design of tailing dam using red mud Science.gov (United States)
Sekhon BS, Bajwa BS (1993) Effect of organic matter and gypsum in controlling soil sodicity in rice and wheat-maize systems irrigated with sodic waters. Agric Water Manage 24:15–25
Shainberg I, Sumner ME, Miller WP, Farina MPW, Pavan MA, Fey MV (1989) Use of gypsum on soils: a review. Adv Soil Sci 9:1–111. Doi:10.1007/978-1-4612-3532-3_1
Sumner ME (1993) Sodic soils: new perspectives. Aust J Soil Res 31:583–750
Susanto M (1992) Effect of gypsum, agricultural lime, and organic matter on the infiltration characteristics of a red-brown earth. Dissertation, University of Adelaide, Australia
Sutar H, Mishra SC (2014) Progress of red mud utilization: an overview. Am Chem Sci J 4(3):255–279
Sutar H, Mishra SC, Sahoo SK, Chakraverty AP, Maharana HS (2014) Progress of red mud utilization: an overview. Am Chem Sci J 4(3):255–279
Thompson TL, Hissner WLP (1991) Micromorphology of calcium carbonate in bauxite processing waste. Geoderma 48(1):31–42
Wagner GR (1997) Asbestosis and silicosis. Lancet 349(9061):1311–1315
Webster GR, Nyborg M (1986) Effects of tillage and amendments on yields and selected soil properties of two solonetzic soils. Can J Soil Sci 66:455–470 Ref: www.world-aluminium.orgBauxite residue mgmt: European Aliminium association: Best Practice (April 2013)
WHO (2013) Airborne dust—WHO—World Health Organization. www.who.int/occupational_health/publications/en/oehairbornedust3.pdf
Wong JW, Ho GE (1992) Viable technique for direct re-vegetation of fine bauxite refining residue. In: Proceedings of international bauxite workshop, Perth, Australia, November
Zhang Y, Qu Y, Wu S (2001) Engineering geological properties and comprehensive utilization of the solid waste (red mud) in aluminium industry. Environ Geol 41(3/4):249–256
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2016 Springer International Publishing Switzerland
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Harris, M.A. (2016). Structural Amelioration of Indurated Gypsum-Treated Bauxite Red Mud Tailings Using Bacterially Mediated Organic Treatments. In: Geobiotechnological Solutions to Anthropogenic Disturbances. Environmental Earth Sciences. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30465-6_10
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-30465-6_10
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-319-30464-9
Online ISBN: 978-3-319-30465-6
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceEarth and Environmental Science (R0)