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ARS Home » Northeast Area » Beltsville, Maryland (BARC) » Beltsville Agricultural Research Center » Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #413987
Research Project: Soil, Crop, and Manure Biochemistry and Molecular Ecology: Bridging Knowledge Gaps in Microbiome Response to Management and Climate Change

Location: Sustainable Agricultural Systems Laboratory

Title: Applying Red Mud in Cadmium Contamination Remediation: A Scoping Review

Author
item LI, JINTAO - Chuzhou University
item LI, XUWEI - Nanjing University
item Fischel, Matthew
item LIN, XIAOCHEN - Nanjing University
item ZHOU, SHIQI - Chuzhou University
item YAN, JIALI - Chuzhou University

Submitted to: Toxics
Publication Type: Literature Review
Publication Acceptance Date: 5/7/2024
Publication Date: 5/8/2024
Citation: Li, J., Li, X., Fischel, M.H., Lin, X., Zhou, S., Yan, J. 2024. Applying Red Mud in Cadmium Contamination Remediation: A Scoping Review. Toxics. 12(5):347. https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12050347.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12050347

Interpretive Summary: Red mud is an industrial byproduct created from processing aluminum from natural rock ores. Hundreds of tons of this material are generated each year and stored in holding ponds globally, which can cause significant environmental and human health hazards due to their high pH and concentration of toxic metals. This review manuscript synthesizes the current literature on using red mud as a soil amendment to reduce cadmium availability in agricultural soils. The results show a significant reduction in cadmium in soils amended with red mud and provide a solution to safely recycle the red mud waste while decreasing cadmium uptake into the human food stream. The results provide a concise reference to inform scientists and policymakers of methods to safely reuse red mud while reducing harm to humans and environmental health.

Technical Abstract: Red mud is a common industrial solid waste that is often disposed of in landfills, resulting in resource waste and environmental pollution. However, due to its high pH and abundance of iron and aluminum oxides and hydroxides, red mud has excellent adsorption properties and can effectively remove heavy metal elements through ion exchange, surface adsorption, and precipitation. Therefore, red mud should be viewed as a valuable resource rather than a waste. In recent years, red mud has been increasingly studied for its potential in wastewater treatment and soil improvement. This can effectively reduce the migration and impact of heavy metals in soil and water bodies. This paper reviews the research results of red mud in the management of cadmium pollution in water bodies and soils, discusses the environmental risks of red mud, and proposes key research directions for the future management of red mud in cadmium-contaminated environments.