Preparation and characterization of red mud/polysulfone composite geosynthetic barrier

Abstract

Red mud (RM) is a waste material originating from the production of alumina. Due to its high alkalinity and heavy metal content, the disposal of red mud represents a significant environmental problem on a global scale. The utilization of red mud as a hybrid component in construction materials has the potential to mitigate storage and environmental pollution, while simultaneously achieving sustainable development and economic benefit. In this article, blank polysulfone (PSF) and red mud-polysulfone (RM/PSF) composite geosynthetic barriers (GBRs) were prepared using the phase inversion technique. The prepared materials were subjected to a series of analyses, including X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), atomic force microscopy (AFM), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and scanning electron microscopy-energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (SEM-EDS). The results indicated that the immobilization of red mud into the polysulfone polymer matrix was successful. The mechanical tests demonstrated that the RM/PSF GBR exhibited superior tensile and tearing strength compared to the blank PSF GBR. Additionally, the SEM images revealed that the RM/PSF GBR exhibited enhanced mechanical properties, resulting in a more homogeneous surface.

Keywords

• Geotextiles
• Geomembranes & geogrids
• Waste
• Sustainability
• Recycling & reuse of materials
• Tensile properties