Exploration of Large-Scale Application of Efficient and Clean Utilization of Low-Grade Bauxite

Abstract

In recent years, the rapid development of the domestic alumina industry has greatly accelerated the consumption of high-alumina–silica-ratio bauxite resources in China. The development of an efficient and clean utilization technology applicable to low-grade bauxite in China is not only a requirement for resource and environmental protection, but also a powerful guarantee to maintain the sustainable development of China’s aluminum industry. Based on this, the authors’ team proposed a new process for the treatment of low-grade bauxite ore via a calcification–carbonization method from the perspective of equilibrium solid-phase reconstruction and achieved the first industrial-scale trial run on the basis of existing laboratory research. The results show that the mass fraction of Na2O in bauxite residue can be reduced to 0.95% in the treatment of typical diaspore bauxite, the A/S in the bauxite residue can be reduced to 0.85 after two-time carbonization–alumina dissolution, and the actual alumina dissolution rate can reach 81.32%. The relevant results verified the feasibility and advantages of the calcification–carbonization method in industrial production.