Separation of Scandium from HCl-Ethanol Leachate of Red Mud by a Supported Ionic Liquid.

[KY_EnviroGuy]

1. Interesting post, NNadir.

Never paid any attention to scandium before, probably because it's so rare. I worked with a lot of exotic alloys in my pollution control work (before retirement) and don't recall seeing that element used.

Your post and the photo reminded me of the red mud disaster in Hungary in October of 2010 where a small town was engulfed after a dam failure at an aluminum facility (and mentioned in your cited article):

There was a dam – six metre-high, a couple of miles away, that held back a reservoir of deadly "red mud", a caustic byproduct of aluminium extraction. But it had burst, and a million cubic metres of the slime was rushing toward Devecser, with waves of up to two metres. Within minutes the town was overcome: cars washed down streets and residents lay stricken on the roofs of their ruined homes. The "red mud disaster" claimed 10 lives, 150 were seriously injured.

From: https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2014/jan/08/devecser-hungary-eco-town

From Science's article:

Globally, some 3 billion tons of red mud are now stored in massive waste ponds or dried mounds, making it one of the most abundant industrial wastes on the planet. Aluminum plants generate an additional 150 million tons each year.

I've seen many horror stories about mine ore waste piles in Brazil and our stores of coal-fired power plant ash ponds, many of which I've seen in person. Agree that future generations may look back at our industrial history with disdain, especially as fresh water supplies become scarce.

Keep up your good scientific work and have a great Thursday.......