en.Wedoany.com Reported - A research team at the University of Aveiro (UA) in Portugal has developed a new water purification material using industrial waste red mud, effectively removing pollutants from water and giving industrial waste a second life.

The study was conducted by Nuno Gonçalves, Ricardo Silva, Tito Trindade, and Rui Novais from the Department of Chemistry, CICECO-Aveiro Institute of Materials, and the Department of Materials and Ceramics. The research material is red mud (lama vermelha), an industrial waste generated during the Bayer process for refining bauxite, which is the main raw material for producing alumina and subsequently metallic aluminum.

The research team used red mud to manufacture three-dimensional structures produced via 3D printing, which can serve as advanced filters for treating contaminated water. To enhance filtration efficiency, the researchers added carbon nanotubes and a titanium dioxide coating to the material. These two materials possess photocatalytic properties, triggering chemical reactions under ultraviolet light to degrade pollutants in water.

Test results showed that the new material could remove over 90% of ciprofloxacin within one hour of operation. Ciprofloxacin is an antibiotic commonly detected in water bodies and is classified as an emerging pollutant. Under certain conditions, the pollutant could be almost completely removed within approximately 30 minutes. Additionally, the system can be reused multiple times without significant performance degradation. Tests indicated that the material maintained its purification capacity over several usage cycles. The study also confirmed that the solution is effective against more complex mixtures of pollutants, which more closely resembles real water environments.

This research combines industrial waste valorization, 3D printing technology, and advanced water treatment methods, offering a more sustainable and economical solution to water pollution while promoting a circular economy, reducing waste, and creating high-value-added new environmental materials.

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