Abstract
Abstract
Red mud is an industrial by-product generated from the aluminium production industries while processing the bauxite ores to produce hydrated alumina. The global production of aluminium was approximately 140 million tonnes in 2022, generating almost 206 million tonnes of red mud (roughly 1.5 times), while 6.5 million tonnes of alumina and 9.1 million tonnes of red mud in India. Its utilisation in the field is eminently less than its humongous generation, leading to increased dumping on natural grounds. Hence, an attempt has been made to explore the feasibility of red mud for embankment construction, which is a high-volume utilisation. A comprehensive literature review has been carried out regarding the application of red mud in embankment construction. Physical and geotechnical properties were reported pertaining to embankment construction. The physical properties presented in the paper include viz. scanning electron microscope, Fourier transform infrared spectroscope and Raman spectroscopy. Geotechnical properties included in the paper are specific gravity, gradation, consistency limits, compaction, shear strength, permeability, and consolidation. The results obtained from the researchers have been compared among the different red mud obtained worldwide, including India. The geotechnical properties of different red mud were compared with the IRC/MoRTH/MoRD specifications. It was observed that it is an alternative to natural soil for embankment construction. It provides ample room for its utilisation in embankment construction, saving the natural soil and the landscapes that otherwise would turn into dumping grounds of red mud. This study aims to solve the dual challenges of waste management and sustainable development while exploring new possible utilisation of the material in the infrastructural development of the country.