Bauxite Tailings Disposal and Water Circulation
April.13,2026
The bauxite washing process is a major consumer of water and, simultaneously, a significant generator of sludge. The implementation of an environmentally friendly water recycling system constitutes a standard design requirement for modern bauxite washing plants.
Tailings Pond: The thickened tailings slurry is transported to a specially designed tailings pond for safe storage and natural sedimentation. The tailings pond is equipped with an impermeable liner, a leachate collection system, and a water recovery pool.
Water Recycling: Clarified water collected from the thickeners and the tailings pond’s recovery pool is pumped back into the process stream via a water recovery pump station to serve as wash water. This practice not only drastically reduces the consumption of fresh water but also prevents the direct discharge of wastewater—which contains alkaline substances and fine suspended solids—thereby averting environmental pollution.
