Radiological and physicochemical properties of red mud based geopolymers

• Published in: Nuclear technology & radiation protection Vol. 33; no. 2; pp. 188 - 194
• Main Authors: Boskovic, Ivana, Nenadovic, Snezana, Kljajevic, Ljiljana, Vukanac, Ivana, Stankovic, Nadezda, Lukovic, Jelena, Vukcevic, Mira
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Belgrade Vinca Institute of Nuclear Sciences 01-01-2018; VINCA Institute of Nuclear Sciences
• Subjects: Aluminum; amorphous material; Bayer process; Construction industry; Construction materials; Diffuse reflectance spectroscopy; Dosage; Environmental impact; Environmental protection; Fourier transforms; Geopolymers; Industrial wastes; microstructure; Natural radioactivity; pigment; Radium 226; Red mud; spectroscopy; X-ray diffraction
• DOI: 10.2298/NTRP1802188B
• EISSN: 1452-8185
• ISSN: 1451-3994

A significant amount of red mud generated as a by-product of the Bayer
process in the aluminum industry may cause environmental problems if
appropriate treatment is not carried out. The presented research dealt with
the possibility of application of red mud as a pigment or as raw material
for use in the construction material industry. In relation to the aim of
this work, the physicochemical characterization was performed and the
natural radioactivity of red mud as an industrial waste and a geopolymer
sample based on it was determined. The presented research is a
contribution to the potential solution for environmental protection through
the synthesis of possible construction material based on red mud.
The radiological hazard orginating from 226Ra, 232Th, and 40K in the
samples was assesed throught the absorbed dose rate and the annual effective
dose rate, calculated in accordance with the UNSCEAR 2010 report.
Physicochemical characterization of all samples was conducted using X-ray
diffraction and diffuse reflectance infrared Fourier transform spectroscopy.