EGA and VITO to intensify research on the potential use of bauxite residue for construction applications

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) announced that it will intensify research partnership with VITO NV, the European research and technology organisation, to find uses of bauxite residue for the UAE construction industry by further developing two of the potential applications identified in the first phase of the project.

EGA and VITO started exploring the potential uses of bauxite residue, a by-product of alumina refining, in construction materials in 2017. The latter will continue to work closely with experts at the University of Leuven in Belgium on the research project.

The first of the new studies will investigate the potential for bauxite residue to be used for constructing road foundations, replacing materials such as sand.

“The second study will assess whether bauxite residue can replace imported clay-based light weight aggregates, which are used to make light weight concrete as well as sound and heat insulating blocks. If successful, this could create a new industry based on locally available materials and substantially reduce the UAE’s reliance on these imported construction products, according to the company press release.

Dr Ali Alzarouni, EGA’s Executive Vice President Midstream said: “We are now moving into the next stage of this important research on the use of bauxite residue, with detailed work on specific potential applications in construction. Finding economically-viable uses for bauxite residue is a global challenge. We are mindful of the scale of the task, but success here could be a breakthrough for our entire industry.”

It is estimate that at least 150 million tonnes of bauxite residue is produced worldwide each year and less than two percent of this is currently put to productive use.

“Whilst new productive uses for bauxite residue are developed, EGA will operate a dedicated bauxite residue storage site in line with current world-class best practice, about 30 kilometres inland from the coast in Khalifa Industrial Zone Abu Dhabi, it said.

“When the Al Taweelah alumina refinery starts production, bauxite residue will be washed, pressed into a dry cake, and transported to the area for permanent managed storage. The site will eventually be covered and used for other industrial purposes.”

EGA is also working with The University of Queensland’s School of Agriculture and Food Sciences to investigate combining bauxite residue with agricultural and domestic wastes to create a soil for greening and other uses in the UAE.