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Cited by 17Bauxite Residue and UtilizationGeotechnical Engineering and Soil StabilizationConcrete and Cement Materials Research

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Phosphogypsum and carbide slag synergy for red mud soil stabilization: Mechanical performance, environmental impacts, and micro-scale mechanisms

Xi, Lei, Deng, Taisen, Ma, Qiang, Zhang, Derun, Zhang, Zeyu, Zhang, Zhenglin·2025·Environmental Research
DOI 10.1016/j.envres.2025.122696
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Abstract

The production of phosphogypsum (PG), calcium carbide slag (CS), and red mud (RM) in global industrial development imposes serious environmental issues. Utilizing CS and PG as curing agents and incorporating RM as a soil substitute can facilitate the solid waste resource utilization. However, few studies have investigated the synergistic effects of PG and CS on the stabilization of RM and soil. To fulfill this research gap, this study explored the recycling of PG and CS for RM soil stabilization at varying RM ratio from 1:4 to 4:1. A series of tests on the stabilized RM soil composite were conducted, including the compaction test, unconfined compressive strength (UCS) test, consolidated-undrained triaxial compression test (CU), microscopic analyses (XRD and SEM), and toxicity characteristic leaching procedure (TCLP) test. The test results indicated that the maximum dry density (MDD) of the RM soil composite increased as the RM ratio increased from 1:4 to 4:1. When the PG content exceeds 8 %, the RM soil composite becomes loose, leading to a decrease in UC and ultimate deviatoricic stress. The synergistic effect of PG-CS can reduce the leaching of Cr, Cd, and Pb significantly by 54.6 %, 32.7 %, and 21.9 % respectively. When appropriate amounts of PG and CS are incorporated, considerable cementitious hydration products such as C-S-H/C-A-S-H and Aft will be generated. These hydration products can adhere to the surface of RM and soil particles or fill the gaps between particles, making the soil structure dense and stable, thereby significantly improving its mechanical performance. The optimal dosages of PG and CS were identified as 8 % and 12 %, respectively. The combined use of PG and CS is found to significantly enhance the strength of the RM-soil composite and inhibit the leaching of heavy metals, which promotes the large-scale utilization of solid waste of PG and CS.

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Metadata

Authors
Xi, L., Deng, T., Ma, Q., Zhang, D., Zhang, Z., & Zhang, Z.
Affiliations
  • Hubei University of Technology (CN)
  • Huazhong University of Science and Technology (CN)
  • Wuhan University of Technology (CN)
Corresponding author
Ma, Qiang
ORCID
Venue
Environmental Research
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2025-12
Volume
286
Issue
Pt 1
Pages
122696
ISSN
0013-9351 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.envres.2025.122696
OpenAlex
W4414078567
Cited by
17
References
48
Citations by year
2026: 16 · 2025: 1
FWCI
4.64
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Environmental Research (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • Outstanding Young and Middle-aged Scientific Innovation Team of Colleges and Universities of Hubei Province (2020EJB004, T2022010)
  • Science Fund for Distinguished Young Scholars of Hubei Province (2023BAB093, 2022CFA043)
  • Hubei Province Natural Science Foundation (2023AFB323)
  • Hubei University of Technology (HGKFYBP23)
  • Ten Thousand Talent Plans for Young Top-notch Talents of Yunnan Province
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (52478338)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Waste Management and Disposal › Bauxite Residue and Utilization
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Civil and Structural Engineering › Geotechnical Engineering and Soil Stabilization
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Civil and Structural Engineering › Concrete and Cement Materials Research
Keywords
phosphogypsum, carbide slag, red mud, soil stabilization, solid waste recycling, heavy metal leaching, unconfined compressive strength, deviatoric stress, calcium silicate hydrate, AFt, maximum dry density, synergistic effect
MeSH terms
Calcium Sulfate, Industrial Waste, Phosphorus, Soil, Soil Pollutants, Compressive Strength, Recycling

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CoChat. (2026). Citation check: Phosphogypsum and carbide slag synergy for red mud soil stabilization: Mechanical performance, environmental impacts, and micro-scale mechanisms. https://app.cochat.ai/papers/10.1016/j.envres.2025.122696
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Xi, L., Deng, T., Ma, Q., Zhang, D., Zhang, Z., & Zhang, Z. (2025). Phosphogypsum and carbide slag synergy for red mud soil stabilization: Mechanical performance, environmental impacts, and micro-scale mechanisms. Environmental Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2025.122696