Alkaline wastewater generated during bauxite processing represents an important environmental issue due to its high pH and the potential release of trace elements from red mud residues. At the former aluminium plant in Podgorica, Montenegro, red mud has been classified as non-hazardous waste; however, wastewater accumulated in the red mud disposal basins exhibits elevated alkalinity (pH > 10) and increased concentrations of Al, As, V, and F exceeding the regulatory limits. This study evaluated five laboratory treatment methods, including chemical neutralization, adsorption, and ion-exchange processes, to identify the most effective remediation strategy. The results showed that treatment efficiency varied considerably among the investigated methods. While chemical neutralization effectively reduced alkalinity, anionic ion-exchange resin achieved the highest overall removal of the target contaminants and provided the highest overall compliance with environmental standards.
