Utilization of iron values of red mud for metallurgical applications

Abstract

A brief overview on the utilization of iron values of red mud is presented along with the results of some recent investigations conducted at National Metallurgical Laboratory. Red mud from Nalco, characterized by high iron content, is used in the studies. Two different strategies are explored : (a) extraction of iron and other metal values from red mud using a pat-ented process, named as Elgai process, available for the removal of alumina from iron ores; and (b) use of red mud as an additive in the iron ore sintering. The second approach has particularly yielded interesting results. Sinter with acceptable physical properties and reducibility could be produced with red mud addition from 50 to 125 kg/tonne of sinter. Red mud addition leads to the dilution of the iron content of sinter. It is suggested that this problem can be circumvented with addition of blue dust, a waste material, along with red mud.