Characterisation of bauxite cleaning waste in Tanjungpinang Indonesia

Abstract

The processing of bauxite ore into aluminium produces a large amount of waste materials. Red mud as waste from the alumina industry is a problem that damages the hydrological function of the soil. Red mud can still be utilised according to its composition and characteristics. In this study, red mud originating from Tanjungpinang is characterised using several techniques (Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), X-ray Diffraction (XRD), and Adsorption desorption nitrogen. XRD characterisation results for all samples tested, namely bmd1, bsg1, bsg2, and bsg3, have relatively uniform phases: boehmite, Gibbsite, Nepheline, Calcite, Hematite, and Quartz. The SEM-EDX test obtained data on the composition of the highest Al content found in bsg3 with a weight of 7.2%. Adsorption desorption nitrogen test results obtained bsg3 has the highest surface area with 62,423 m2/g. With the characteristics of red mud from bauxite washing, this waste material can be utilised in various fields.