Application of red mud in the remediation of heavy metals pollution:A review

The application of red mud in the remediation of heavy metals-polluted environment has raised great concerns.This application does make a breakthrough in the remediation of heavy metals-polluted environment,but brings about environmental risks at the same time.In the present studies on the application of red mud in the remediation of heavy metals-polluted environment,more attentions focus on the remediation effectiveness or remediation process,but few focuses on the deactivation mechanisms of heavy metals by red mud.The environmental risk assessment of red mud remediation is still at the beginning.This paper reviewed the research progress in the application of red mud in the remediation of heavy metals-polluted environment,and gave comments to the future studies on the application of red mud in the management of heavy metals pollution: 1) to further study the deactivation mechanisms of heavy metals by red mud,2) to approach the effective safety assessment means of red mud application,and 3) to integrate the red mud remediation and bio-remediation(plants or microorganisms) to remediate the heavy metals and organic compound pollution.