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Scale Formation During the Bayer Process and a Potential Prevention Strategy

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Abstract

Five samples of scales collected from various locations in a high-temperature Bayer process plant were characterized via X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy, X-ray spectroscopy, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy analyses. Then, a method for preventing the formation of scales was proposed. Results showed that the minerals in scales, such as hematite, hydroxyapatite, and sodium aluminate silicate hydrate, are arranged in a layered structure. The difference in arrangement resulted in variations in physical properties, including thickness and hardness. Hematite was facilitated to form thicker layers than magnetite during the scale formation process. Therefore, converting hematite into magnetite by adding a reductant (e.g., glycerol) during Bayer digestion is a feasible strategy for preventing the formation of scales.

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Acknowledgements

This work was financially supported by the Natural Science Foundation of China (Nos. 51604309 and 51804142).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Metallurgy and Environment, Central South University, No. 932, Lushan Road, Changsha, 410083, Hunan, China

    Lu-wei Cheng, Yi-lin Wang, Qiu-sheng Zhou, Tian-gui Qi, Gui-hua Liu, Zhi-hong Peng & **ao-bin Li

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  1. Lu-wei Cheng
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  2. Yi-lin Wang
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  3. Qiu-sheng Zhou
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Correspondence to Yi-lin Wang or **ao-bin Li.

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The contributing editor for this article was Hongmin Zhu.

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Cheng, Lw., Wang, Yl., Zhou, Qs. et al. Scale Formation During the Bayer Process and a Potential Prevention Strategy. J. Sustain. Metall. 7, 1293–1303 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40831-021-00417-4

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