Utilization of bauxite waste in ceramic glazes

Red mud (bauxite waste) emerge as by-product from the caustic leaching of bauxites to produce alumina and it causes serious problems such as storing and environmental pollution. In this study, red mud, which is the industrial waste of Seydişehir Aluminium Plant (Turkey), was investigated for use in the making of ceramic glazes in the ceramic industry. The chemical and the mineralogical investigations indicated that major constituents of the red mud were hematite (α-Fe2O3) and sodium aluminium silicate hydrate (1.01 Na2O.Al2O3.1.68 SiO2.1.73 H2O). The production of the porcelain, vitreous (sanitary ware glazes), tile and electroporcelain glazes was done using the red mud. The glazes, which contain different compositions and properties, were examined. Their surface properties, the chemical strength of glazes in 3% HCI and 3% NaOH and abrasion resistance were investigated experimentally. It was found that the addition of up to 37 wt% of the red mud waste was possible in the production of the glazes.