A low-cost process for complete utilization of bauxite residue.

Cost-effective treatment or even valorization of the bauxite residue (red mud) from the alumina industry is in demand to improve their environmental and economic liabilities. This study proposes a strategy that provides a near-complete conversion of bauxite residue to valuable products. The first step involves dilute acid leaching, which allowed the fractionation of raw residues into (1) an aqueous fraction rich in silica and aluminium and (2) a solid residue rich in iron, titanium and rare earth elements. For the proposed process, 91% of the original silicon, 67% of the aluminium, 78% of the scandium and 69% of the cerium were recovered. The initial cost evaluation suggested that this approach is profitable with a gross margin of 167 $US per tonne. This "Residue2Product" approach should be considered for large-scale practices as one of the most economical and sustainable solutions to this environmental and economic liability for the alumina industry.

Agromining: farming for metals in the future?

Phytomining technology employs hyperaccumulator plants to take up metal in harvestable plant biomass. Harvesting, drying and incineration of the biomass generates a high-grade bio-ore. We propose that "agromining" (a variant of phytomining) could provide local communities with an alternative type of agriculture on degraded lands; farming not for food crops, but for metals such as nickel (Ni). However, two decades after its inception and numerous successful experiments, commercial phytomining has not yet become a reality. To build the case for the minerals industry, a large-scale demonstration is needed to identify operational risks and provide "real-life" evidence for profitability.

Capitalizing hidden values from hospital assets.

Benefits from selling noncore assets include generating capital and freeing up management resources. Monetization transaction structures include sale, partnership, and strategic affiliation. A hospital that engages in such a transaction needs to ensure that the purchaser or joint venture partner will maintain the hospital's high standards of care and ethical principles.

Private equity investment in health care services.

Sophisticated private equity investors in health services provide venture capital for early-stage companies, growth capital for mid-stage companies, and equity capital for buyouts of mid-stage and mature companies. They pursue opportunities in provider sectors that are large and have a stable reimbursement environment, such as acute care services; sectors with room to execute consolidation strategies, such as labs; alternative-site sectors, such as "storefront" medicine; and clinical services, such as behavioral health, that are subject to profitably increasing quality and lowering costs. The innovations created through private equity investments could challenge established health services organizations.

Risk factors.

Minimize surprises on your financial statement by adopting a model for integrated risk management that: Examines interrelationships among operations, investments, and financing. Incorporates concepts of the capital asset pricing model to manage unexpected volatility