Extraction of rare earth metals and production of secondary raw materials by utilizing the red mud complex (GINOP-2.2.1-15-2017-00106)

Project ID: GINOP-2.2.1-15-2017-00106

Project description:

Research into the applicability of red mud in the construction industry is planned along two main lines. On the one hand, we will investigate its industrial use in ceramics, finding all the possibilities for its use in brick production, taking into account the mechanical and aesthetic aspects that clearly determine its applicability. The second area of research is the investigation of the possibilities for the production of so-called geopolymer binders, which are nowadays increasingly important and are considered environmentally friendly. The planned technological developments will make it possible to produce a building material industrial product from red mud that can be sold on the market.

Another objective is to produce potential secondary raw materials by combining red mud as a waste with other types of waste and through a new innovative solution. Due to its caustic sodium content, red mud can be used to neutralise acid agricultural wastes, distillates and bio-wastes. The objective of this research is to react the alkaline red mud with model hydrocarbons, oil, bio-oil distillates, acid biomasses and to process them using environmentally friendly technologies. The aim is to produce a potentially usable secondary raw material from hazardous waste and by-products that are currently not economically recoverable on an industrial scale.

The third project component is the recovery of scandium (Sc) from red mud. Scandium is a rare and very expensive metal, which is of great importance for industrial use. It is used in high-strength metal alloys, ceramics, optical, electronic and navigation devices, solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC), and other advanced materials. The project aims to recover scandium by treating red mud with nitric acid, ion exchange of dissolved rare earths and other metal components, separation of scandium-containing material, liquid-liquid extraction, and the use of organic extractants. The extracted scandium remains in the organic phase, the other rare earth components in the aqueous phase. Further processing of the organic phase is intended to extract the scandium in hydroxide form. To support the chemical process, biosorption experiments will be carried out for the controlled extraction of Sc. The biosorption of Sc from red mud has been solved using microorganisms "Karavaiko" et al. Economical recovery of scandium, other rare earth elements from red mud is part of the process of complex recovery of red mud.

Project duration: 01.03.2018 – 30.06.2023

Total project cost: 1 480 767 324 HUF

Amount of support: 1 002 862 630 HUF

Project costs available for University of Pannonia: 399 678 864 HUF

Support rate: 100 %

Professional leader: Dr. Juzsakova Tatjána, Dr. Korim Tamás, Dr. Kurdi Róbert

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Project manager: Horváth Róbert

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