NALCO unveils pilot plant to recover critical minerals
National Aluminium Company (NALCO) has inaugurated a pilot plant to recover value-added products such as alumina. The plant will process bituminous coal fly ash for the recovery of value-added products at the NALCO Research & Technology Centre (NRTC) in Bhubaneswar, India.
Brijendra Pratap Singh, Chairman & Managing Director (CMD) of NALCO, inaugurated the plant yesterday (August 18th).
He said that the company was committed to leveraging research, innovation, and strategic partnerships to convert industrial residues into valuable resources.
He emphasised that pilot-scale validation of indigenous technologies was an important step towards developing commercially viable solutions that can strengthen resource efficiency, critical mineral security, and the circular economy.
Also in attendance were representatives from NALCO, the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research – Institute of Minerals and Materials Technology (CSIR-IMMT), and the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT).
The 50 kg per day capacity fly ash processing pilot plant has been designed and established by CSIR-IMMT and KIIT, with support from NALCO, CSIR, and the Ministry of Mines, Government of India.
In addition, the facility is based on a jointly patented process developed by CSIR-IMMT and NALCO for the holistic utilisation of coal fly ash.
The process enables recovery of multiple value-added products, such as alumina and an iron hydroxide residue enriched in rare earth elements (REE), including scandium.
On the occasion, a ground-breaking ceremony was also held for setting up a pilot plant for bauxite residue (red mud) valorisation.
The proposed facility will focus on the recovery of ferro-titanium alloy, metallic iron, and REE from red mud, thereby advancing efforts towards the productive utilisation of industrial residues.
REE are critical inputs for a range of high-technology applications, including permanent magnets, electric mobility, renewable energy, electronics, and defence.
Alumina, meanwhile, is the principal feedstock for aluminium production and an important industrial raw material.
Recovery of such materials from secondary resources can improve resource efficiency, supplement primary sources, and unlock additional value from industrial residues.
The fly ash pilot plant is also expected to generate quantities of REE concentrate for further research and development on mixed REE recovery and separation.
This will support the development of downstream value-added products and contribute towards establishing integrated recovery pathways for critical minerals.
