Jamshedpur, April 1: CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), Jamshedpur signed a memorandum of understanding at IIMT, Bhubaneswar for the technology development for Holistic Utilization of Red Mud, a waste generated from Aluminium Industry.
The signing partners were three research institutes namely CSIR-National Metallurgical Laboratory (NML), Jamshedpur, Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (IMMT), Bhubaneswar and Jawaharlal Nehru Aluminium Research , Development & Design Centre, Nagpur and three major Aluminium producing Industries namely National Aluminium Company Ltd (NALCO), Hindalco Industries Ltd, and Vedanta Ltd.
Dr Indranil Chattoraj, Director, CSIR-NML said that every year India generates 9 million tonnes of red mud, which is dumped in pond causing environment load. There is no commercial technology to use it. However, Red mud as one of the important source of REE such as Scandium, Lanthalam, Cerium and Yittrium. These elements have multiple defense and civilian application. India don’t have any source of REE and depends on import. In order to make India self-reliant. NITIAYOG has identified red mud as important source of REE, especially scandium and emphasized that the country need to develop the technology. Based on expertise in REE extraction and red mud utilization, CSIR-NML was made nodal agency to take this project forward along with other partners.
Dr Sanjay Kumar, head, Metal Extraction & Recycling Division informed that various technology will be developed for red mud utilization under this national program, namely (a) red mud beneficiation for REE enrichment b) Recovery of alumina values c) Recovery of iron values d) Process for extraction and separation of Ti and REEs (La, Ce, Y, Sc) . The processes once established, will be validated through an integrated facility.
