Remediation of Bauxite Residue Through Integrated Approach of Microbes and Plantation

Abstract

Bauxite residue (red mud) is an industrial waste bye product of Alumina industry. It is toxic and highly alkaline in nature having heavy metals. Its disposal is the paramount environmental issue in Alumina industry. In the present study, bioremediation of red mud was carried out through cyanobacteria amendments and plantation. Two cyanobacterial species (viz. Phormidium and Oscillatoria) were found promising after studying their effect on physico-chemical characteristics of red mud. Seeds of selected tree species (viz. Dalbergia sissoo, Prosopis juliflora, Acacia auriculiformis, Pithecellobium dulce, Cassia siamia) were procured, and a nursery of these tree species was raised. Performances of two cyanobacteria (viz. Phormidium and Oscillatoria sps.) in combinations with PSB and VAM on red mud are very encouraging and hold considerable promise for bioremediation and revegetation of red mud. Inoculated seedlings of P. juliflora, P. dulce, A. auriculiformis, and C. siamia performed well for red mud revegetation.

Keywords

Identifiers

DOI

10.4018/978-1-7998-7062-3.ch018

Journal

Advances in Environmental Engineering and Green Technologies

Year

2021