Overview
Topic status: We're looking for students to study this topic.
The main outcome of this research will be the development of a bauxite residue-free neutralisation process which will yield hydrotalcite particles large enough to give acceptable settling rates. Once hydrotalcite can be adequately settled out independently of bauxite residue, applications of hydrotalcite in water purification can be investigated.Australia is one of the largest producers of alumina, and although this has huge economic benefits, there are environmental consequences which need to be managed appropriately. Millions of tonnes of bauxite refinery residues are produced each year in the Bayer process, and a current environmental management program used to reduce the impact of the waste is the seawater neutralisation process. This process removes both the causticity of the residue, and trace heavy metals. Another outcome of this neutralisation process is the formation of a layered mineral compound (hydrotalcite), which has economic potential in the area of water purification. However, current neutralisation conditions produce very small hydrotalcite particles which have long settling times. Settling rates are currently being improved by the addition of bauxite residue, which contaminates the hydrotalcite material rendering it useless for further applications.
- Study level
- PhD, Masters, Honours
- Supervisors
- QUT
- Organisational unit
Science and Engineering Faculty
- Research area
- Keywords
- wastewater, industry, waste, residue, alumina, bauxite, purification, environment
- Contact
- For more information, contact Dr. Sara Couperthwaite.
Dr Sara Couperthwaite
Professor Graeme Millar
Emeritus Professor Ray Frost
