Characteristics of red mud slurry flow in carbonation reactor

• Published in: Powder technology Vol. 311; pp. 66 - 76
• Main Authors: Li, Ruibing, Zhang, Ting'an, Liu, Yan, Zhou, Jianpeng, Zou, Ruiping, Kuang, Shibo
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Lausanne Elsevier B.V 15.04.2017; Elsevier BV
• Subjects: Aluminum base alloys; Bauxite; Bayer process; Calcification; Carbon dioxide; Carbonation; Gas holdup; Jet flow; Liquid phases; Mass transfer coefficient; Mixing time; Mud; Optimization; Reactors; Red mud; Sauter diameter; Slurries; Velocity; Venturi reactor; Gas holdup; Venturi reactor; Mass transfer coefficient; Mixing time; Sauter diameter
• ISSN: 0032-5910; 1873-328X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.powtec.2016.11.028

A new calcification–carbonation method was developed for treating bauxite residue (red mud), and a novel Venturi carbonation reactor (jet–flow reactor) was designed and used to process the bauxite residue. The characteristics of the fluid of gas–liquid and red mud slurry–gas–liquid phases in the jet flow reactor were investigated, mainly the effects of superficial gas and liquid velocities and the effective height–to–diameter ratio (H/D) of the reactor for gas holdup, mixing time, bubble refining, and CO2 absorption. The results show that the maximum CO2 utilization rate (η) was achieved, i.e., η=83.3% when the H/D value of the reactor was 4 and superficial gas and liquid velocities were 10.62m·s−1 and 0.89m·s−1, respectively. The results provide a theoretical basis for the optimization of a new type of jet flow reactor. [Display omitted] •The fluid characteristics of red mud slurry in carbonation reactor were studied.•Experimental measurements were performed.•Studies are on the effects of gas/liquid velocity and height-to-diameter ratio.•The maximum CO2 utilization rate (η) was achieved, i.e., η=83.3%.