Geomega Resources has provided an update on its bauxite residue valorization project, developed in collaboration with Rio Tinto. The initiative, which began pilot testing in March 2022, focuses on transforming bauxite residue—an industrial waste byproduct of alumina production—into valuable metal products through a three-stage processing system.
The modular technology, divided into Circuits 1, 2, and 3, can be licensed by refiners based on their waste composition and recovery goals.
Circuit 1 targets alkalinity removal while producing sodium, calcium, aluminum, and silica byproducts. This phase alone accounts for up to 30% of total waste volume reduction. Circuit 2 is designed for iron recovery, including the production of high-purity direct reduced iron (DRI) material for lower-emission steelmaking. Combined, the first two circuits remove over 70% of waste volume.
Circuit 3 focuses on extracting high-value metals such as rare earth elements (REE), titanium, and potentially scandium, gallium, alumina, and additional silica. Geomega is working to ensure this circuit remains cost-effective, while also regenerating and recycling chemical reagents used in the process.
A key strength of the system is its reagent recycling capability—more than 95% of the main reagents used in Circuits 1 and 2 are reclaimed, significantly lowering operational costs and minimizing environmental impact. The company emphasizes that no additional hazardous waste is generated during the process.
