Value Added Bauxite Products and Beneficiation Opportunities

In the world about 10–15% bauxite are used in the non-metallurgical applications including value-added products, particularly for refractory, abrasive, proppants, alumina cement, ceramics, and scores of chemicals. These applications, in general, require more stringent specifications compared to metallurgical industry, particularly with reference to alumina, iron and titania contents and specific physical properties. China, India, Guyana, and Brazil are the major producers of these value-added bauxite products. Some of the bauxite and special alumina products are similar, however, there is a vast difference in their quality, product specification, industrial applications, and prices. The natural white bauxites are rapidly depleting in the world. In order to produce high alumina bauxite, it is necessary to beneficiate widely available metallurgical grade ore. In this context, a large bauxite deposits of Eastern Ghats belt of India are identified as potential raw material target as this has low level of impurities and any process which can significantly decrease iron content can make this chemically suitable for refractory and abrasive application. As the value of the calcined bauxite is comparable to alumina, 3–4 stages of physical/chemical/bio beneficiation techniques can be applied, which may lead to produce low iron and high alumina bauxite.