De-alkanization pilot

As part of the RemovAL H2020 project, Aughinish has demonstrated a technology to reduce the total soda in Bauxite Residue (BR) to less than 0.5% on a Na2O basis. The technology required the reaction of the BR with calcium hydroxide under specific conditions and time to produce the very low soda material, also termed Dealkalised BR. To-date, samples of the treated residue have been shipped to 12 different companies and research institutions to investigate its use as a supplementary cementitious material (SCM), as well as in the production of geopolymers, dense monoliths and slip-bricks. The pilot plant has demonstrated that in addition to producing a useable material, the caustic or soda bound in the BR can be recovered back into the Bayer Process greatly improving the economics of the treatment with calcium hydroxide