EGA joins hand with AUS to research on bauxite residue utilization

Emirates Global Aluminium (EGA) has signed an agreement with the American University of Sharjah to study the conversion of organic waste into biochar, a stable form of carbon that is used worldwide to improve the potential of soils to support plant life. EGA is interested in the potential of combining biochar with bauxite residue, a by-product of alumina refining, to create soil for greening and other uses in the UAE.

Source: EGA

Abdalla Alzarooni, EGA’s Vice President of Technology Development & Transfer, said: “Finding economic uses for bauxite residue is a challenge for our industry globally. This research with AUS is an important part of our investigations into one potential solution, and we are pleased that we can work with UAE-based scientists on this project. We also hope this project will help the UAE more broadly in reducing waste to landfill in line with ‘UAE Vision 2021’.”

EGA is also working with The University of Queensland’s School of Agriculture and Food Sciences to research the viability of using bauxite residue for this purpose. Bauxite residue will be a by-product of EGA’s under-construction Al Taweelah alumina refinery.

Industry experts estimate that at least 150 million tonnes of bauxite residue are produced worldwide each year.

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