The research team of the University of Natural Sciences successfully implemented the project of manufacturing building materials from red mud arising in alumina production in the Central Highlands, creating economic efficiency and reducing pollution.

Red mud is a waste generated from alumina production technology in the Central Highlands which is a hazardous waste that must be buried in lakes designed to be built and waterproofed.

However, these red mud lakes are not completely frozen, which will cause pollution and environmental degradation in the Central Highlands.

Facing this fact, the research team of the University of Natural Sciences (Hanoi National University), chaired by Associate Professor, Dr Luu Duc Hai, has implemented the project "Researching material manufacturing capabilities." constructed from red mud generated from alumina production technology in the Central Highlands. ”

The study proposed a solution to treat red mud into ceramic bricks constructed by mixing red mud with clay and sand additives on the production line of baked bricks using tunnel kilns and created bricks of high strength.

Currently, Vietnam has piloted two production plants of alumina under Bayer technology in Tan Rai (Lam Dong) and Nhan Co (Dak Nong) with a total capacity of 1.3 million tons of alumina per year.

The Central Highlands red mud does not contain radioactive material, so it can be used to recover metals or produce construction materials with high economic efficiency.

Associate Professor, Dr Luu Duc Hai said: “The economic efficiency of the solution of treating red mud into construction ceramic bricks comes from the fact that the main material of construction ceramic bricks is red mud (at no cost).”

The production equipment is not much different from the normal terracotta brick production lines currently in Vietnam, additional additives are exploited locally at low cost. Thus, the treatment of red mud into construction ceramic bricks if the output market for products is locally available, production activities has brought profits to investors.

Also according to Associate Professor, Dr Luu Duc Hai, if calculating the costs of burial red mud under the approved red mud lake construction plan, the solution of treating red mud into construction ceramic bricks is effective.