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1. Collection, mineralogical, chemical and thermochemical analysis of red mud.

2. Optimization and fabrication of ≈5g/cc red mud blocks by adding high Z material with red mud through hot compaction.

3. Reducing the hot compaction temperature below 900°C by adding binders to make it suitable for large scale production.

4. Designing and fabrication of joint free molds.

5. Fabrication of joint free X- and gamma ray shielding blocks of having dimension 190mm X 90 mm X 90 mm through hot compaction.

6. Studying the X-ray attenuation characteristics of the shield from 60 – 150 kVp X-rays.

7. Studying the gamma ray attenuation of shielding both at the joints and body of the shield using 60Co source.

8. Analyzing the mechanical strength, density and leaching characteristics of the shield.

9. Reduce the usage of toxic lead and heavy weight concrete for building radiation shielding structures and thereby to reduce the toxicity associated with it.

Red mud is a solid hazardous (>11 pH) alumina industrial waste, which is rich in Fe2O3, Al2O3, TiO2, SiO2, CaCO3 and rare earth elements (REE). Annually 160 million tonnes of red mud has been generated and left unused in the disposal plants. Although more than 700 various applications of red mud has been patented, only 3-4% of red mud is used as cement additives, iron ore, pigments, adsorbents, etc. CSIR-Advanced material and Processes Research Institute (CSIR-AMPRI) has converted the iron rich red mud into X-ray shielding tiles as an alternative of toxic lead. This technology was transferred to M/S Prism Johnson Ltd., Hyderabad on 10/06/2019. The developed tiles are suitable for shielding diagnostic X-rays until 140 kVp, due to its high porosity ( 30%). It requires quite thick wall to attenuate high energy gamma rays and industrial X-rays. Very recently, CSIR-AMPRI has developed 3.3–4.8 g/cc blocks by hot compacting red mud with high Z additives (Bi2O3 and Ba(OH)2) at above 1000C in a laboratory scale. It possesses 55% attenuation of lead and possesses the compressive strength of ≈285 MPa, which is higher than the conventional and heavy weight concrete (70MPa). The following works has to be further carried out to take this technology to the industry.

1. Reducing the hot compaction temperature below 900C by adding some binders are having low melting point.

2. Designing and fabrication of joint free shields, otherwise the shield thickness has to be doubled to arrest the leakage of radiation through the joints.

3. Fabrication of joint free brick sized samples for the construction applications.

4. Analyzing the X- and -ray attenuation characteristics of the shields both at the joints as well as the body of the shield.

5. Testing and arresting of heavy element leaching from the shield.

To address all those problems, we would like to combine two various expertise available at CSIR-AMPRI and Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research Development and Design Centre (JNARDDC), Nagpur. The expertise and the facilities available at JNARDDC for the characterization of red mud will help in collecting red mud and characterizing their mineralogical, chemical and heavy element leaching characteristics from both the sintered and as collected red mud. At the end of this project, we will be able to deliver a joint free X- and gamma ray shielding blocks which are suitable to build shielding radiation shielding structures for both the high energy X- and gamma rays. It will ensure the mass utilization of red mud and will reduce the accumulation of red mud and associated environmental problems. It will promote the utilization of secondary resources and thereby to reduce primary mining.

1. 5g/cc, joint free X- and gamma ray shielding blocks of having dimension 900x90 x 90mm3.

2. Gamma ray (60Co) attenuation characteristics of the shield both at the joints and body of the shield.

3. Shield with sufficient compressive strength to build radiation shielding structures.

4. Thermochemical, mechanical and heavy element leaching characteristics of the shield.

5. Technology for zero-waste utilization of red mud and thereby to reduce the environmental problems associated with it.

1. It will reduce the cost of cancer treatment and diagnosis.

2. Reduce the accumulation of red mud, primary mining and pollution associated with it.

3. Will generate jobs for both the skilled unskilled labors