Utilization of Bauxite Residue: Recovering Iron Values Using the Iron Nugget Process

Abstract

ABSTRACT Red mud waste from aluminum processing was utilized as a material for extraction of iron. Red mud contains a high amount of iron, comparable to feedstock to North American iron mines, and extracting this iron value is paramount. The iron nugget process can extract iron from the iron minerals in red mud. The nugget process is a one-step alternative to the blast furnace which simultaneously reduces and separates metallic iron from the red mud. A mixture of powdered hardwood and softwood was used as the reducing agent. Resulting iron nuggets have an iron grade that is comparable to blast furnace pig iron.