Characterization of Bayer red mud from Guizhou, China

Bayer red mud is derived from the Bayer cycle, the major industrial approach to producing alumina from bauxite. The chemical and mineral composition of Bayer red mud varies greatly with respect to the type of bauxite ores and processing parameters. Bayer red mud from Guizhou, China, was investigated using XRF, ICP-MS and XRD. The mineral composition of Bayer red mud samples was studied using transmission electron microscope (TEM). It was found that the Guizhou Bayer red mud sample mainly consisted of vishnevite, garnet (grossularite, almandite), titanite, calcite, perovskite, larnite, iron oxides and a small amount of amorphous materials.