7 November, 2011
Dear Samantha,
Subject: Vacation Research Experience Scholarship
I am pleased to advise that your application for a QUT Vacation Research Experience Scholarship in the Faculty of Science and Technology has been successful.
Outlined below are details of the scholarship and associated scholarship conditions.
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Project Title
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Red mud applications in building materials
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Supervisor and contact details
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Sara Couperthwaite
Godwin Ayoko
Ray Frost
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Brief description of the project
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Bauxite refinery residues (red mud) are derived from the Bayer process by the digestion of crushed bauxite in concentrated caustic (NaOH) at elevated temperatures. The process results in the dissolution of gibbsite (Al(OH)3) and boehmite (AlOOH) as sodium aluminate, while the remaining insoluble residue (45% liquor and 55% solid mud) is removed by means of flocculation and decantation. Red mud varies in physical, chemical, and mineralogical properties, however, the general consensus of the composition of red mud has been found to be largely composed of iron oxides, primarily hematite (Fe2O3), and goethite (FeOOH), boehmite, other aluminium hydroxides, calcium oxides, titanium oxides (anatase and rutile), and aluminosilicate minerals (sodalite).
RM is a form of laterite (soil types rich in iron and aluminium) and has the potential to be used for building materials. When moist, laterites can be easily cut with a spade into regular-sized blocks and upon exposure to air it gradually hardens as the moisture between the flat clay particles evaporates and the larger iron salts lock into a rigid lattice structure and become resistant to atmospheric conditions. Therefore, there is the potential for red mud to be used in the production of commercial products such as; bricks, road base, cement aggregate, pavement blocks and ceramics.
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Research activities undertaken during the project
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· Synthesis and characterisation
- Evaluation of the feasibility of the materials as building products
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Expected Outcomes
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· To characterise red mud that has undergone different chemical and physical treatments
· To determine the specifications required for commercial building materials
· To estimate the feasibility of the different red mud materials for the five different building products investigated
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Duration of Scholarship
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8 weeks
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Contact and span of hours (approx)
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9AM to 5 PM
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Commencement Date
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21 November 2011
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*Scholarship (basic payment per week)
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$155 tax-free stipend*
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Scholarship top-up (if applicable)
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Yes
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Any specific Health and Safety requirements
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Normal Risk Assessments will be performed for the project
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Fieldwork
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None
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*It is strongly recommended that you contact the ATO, Centrelink, DIMIA or your sponsoring body (as appropriate) if you are receiving additional income or support as this may affect your eligibility for this tax-free stipend.
Enclosed are the following documents -
¨ Response to Offer form
¨ Electronic Funds Transfer Details form
Please forward all completed documents by mail to Kerry Fesuk, Faculty of Science & Technology, QUT, GPO Box 2434 Brisbane, Qld 4001, or in person to the Reception counter, Faculty of Science & Technology, Level 4, O Block Podium, Gardens Point campus.
If you have any questions about the scholarship or the attached documentation, please contact Kerry Fesuk on 3138 1106.
On receipt of your completed documents, the Faculty will arrange for payment of your scholarship in two equal payments at approximately Week 3 and Week 7 of the project (or earlier if the project runs for less than 7 weeks).
I congratulate you on your success and I look forward to receiving your acceptance of this offer.
Yours sincerely
ching2003111
2011 年 11 月 8 日 星期二 
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