MTM Critical Metals has signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with Vedanta, an aluminium production company, to explore alumina waste recycling.
The collaboration will utilise MTM’s proprietary flash joule heating (FJH) technology to recycle Vedanta’s red mud, or bauxite tailings, to recover valuable metals.
Under the non-binding MOU, Vedanta will supply bauxite residue from its alumina operations to MTM.
MTM has already demonstrated the effectiveness of its FJH process in reducing iron from Vedanta-supplied red mud during pilot studies.
The initial production will focus on creating a red mud product suitable for green cement.
Subsequent efforts will aim to optimise the FJH process for complete iron removal and the recovery of residual metals.
This includes high-value metals such as aluminium, titanium, scandium, rare earth elements and gallium.
By completely extracting iron, a purer feedstock will be produced for subsequent downstream processing.
MTM managing director and CEO Michael Walshe said: “Since our technology can recover the iron, once that is removed, recovery of remaining valuable metals in the red mud will be possible and can be used as raw material for the manufacture of ‘green’ cement. Red mud is viewed as a great cement additive.
“If iron can be removed to a certain level, the resulting ‘green’ cement will have a lower CO₂ footprint versus traditional material.”
Red Mud poses a significant waste challenge globally, with more than four billion tonnes (bt) currently in hazardous tailings deposits. Millions of tonnes of valuable metals are still trapped within these stockpiles.
“This effort represents a significant new opportunity for our process,” stated Walshe.
The MOU does not stipulate financial obligations or payments and will remain effective for 12 months from signing unless extended by mutual agreement.
The collaboration is designed to assess technical feasibility and commercial viability.
The parties aim to negotiate agreements for red mud processing technology supply, formal processing, supply and offtake contracts post successful trials, and a potential technology licensing agreement.
