VietNamNet Bridge - Scientists have successfully built up a technological process of making fine iron ore, steel and unburned building materials from suitable red mud.

The research project has been carried out by Dr. Vu Duc Loi from the Chemistry Institute and his fellow workers.

If green building materials can be made from the red mud, this will help protect the environment and ensure the sustainable development of the alumina industry in the Central Highlands.

The researchers, after analyzing the composition of the red mud generated during the alumina production at the Lam Dong alumina plant, has developed a steel production process based on the direct reduction technology with the recovery capacity of up to 70 percent. The slag can be used as an additive during cement and building materials production.

However, though the capability of getting the best out of red mud to create green building materials has been verified, scientists have said it is necessary to think carefully about the utilization of the newly found technological process.

The problem is that the technology consumes much energy, which means high production and, therefore,  economic ineffectiveness.

The production on a trial basis showed that one ton of fine iron ore can be recollected from 2.4 tons of dry red sludge. The fine iron ore can satisfy the requirements to make pig iron and sponge iron.

The scientists have come to the conclusion that the production cost for making one ton of fine iron ore is lower than the price of commercial products available on the market. This means that the technological process can be utilized in industrial production. 

Nevertheless, though affirming the feasibility of the plan to make building materials from red mud, the scientists emphasized that it is still necessary to consider the production plan from many different angles and the influences on socio-economic development.

The scientists think that if Vietnam will “not make a profit” if it makes pig iron and steel from red mud.

Meanwhile, Dr. Nguyen Van Lang, former Deputy Minister of Science and Technology, noted that Vietnam will “take a loss” if it makes steel from red mud.

However, it would still be profitable if alumina plants pay money for the red mud treatment. This proves to be a feasible solution. Instead of having to spend money to build reservoirs to keep red mud, the plants can use the money to pay for red mud treatment and steel production.

Lang believes that Vinacomin, the developer of the bauxite projects in the Central Highlands, would agree to the solution.

“Alumina plants would have to pay for red mud treatment, possibly $5-10 per ton, instead of having to pay VND300 billion a year to build and operate a red mud reservoir,” Lang said.

Dat Viet