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REEBAUX - Prospects of REE recovery from bauxite and bauxite residue in the ESEE region

A large number of bauxite deposits and a long history of aluminium industry in the ESEE region triggered many professional and scientific studies in respect of recovery of CRM (critical raw materials) from bauxite and bauxite residue, which is produced in Bayer process of alumina production. So far, several projects have been proposed and executed in the European scale, dealing with extraction of REE from bauxite-related resources in particular. Bauxite residue (red mud) in many cases showed REE concentrations at least doubled relative to those in parent bauxites (DEADY et al., 2014). REE as a group of elements are listed among other CRM due to their high demand in many modern industrial applications. They have been proved to be deficient in Europe due to a lack of their production from domestic REE resources. Thus, REE supply largely relies on imports outside Europe. Many studies have been lunched in order to develop and introduce production of REE for the European market from various REE-enriched deposits (GOODENOUGH et al., 2016). Different methods to recover REE from bauxite residue have been tested, including leaching with various acids, and recent introduction of functional ionic liquids particularly showed promising results (DAVRIS et al., 2018). In scope of the REEBAUX project, bauxite-related resources in the partner countries (Austria, Croatia, Hungary, Montenegro and Slovenia) are evaluated for their potential use in REE recovery, and viable extraction methods for their production thereof are expected to be assessed. The project activities are organized as three independent yet mutually connected workpackages, which include assessment of REE potential in the most perspective bauxite deposits in the region as well as in a few available red mud accumulations. In addition, a set of activities aiming at strengthening a relationship to local stakeholders and improving regional innovation capacity in bauxite exploration and REE recovery technologies is a part of the project agenda. The project is funded by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), a body of European Union, under the Horizon 2020, the EU Framework Programme for Research and Innovation.

bauxite, bauxite residue, REE, ESEE region

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