Bauxite is an important ore widely used for the production of aluminium oxide (Al₂O₃), which is the main precursor for the production of aluminum (Al), applying the Bayer process. During this process, a by-product is generated, known as red mud (RM) or bauxite residue (BR). The utilization and recycling of this material is currently a serious environmental problem in Bosnia and Herzegovina, as well as throughout Europe and the world, primarily as a consequence of the high pH value (10-13.5) and the high volume it occupies during disposal.
Conversely, red mud has the potential to be utilized as a secondary raw material due to the presence of valuable compounds such as oxides of iron, aluminum, silicon, titanium and rare earth elements (REE) that carry significant economic potential.
This study focuses on the evaluation of the iron resource potential of BR. Iron recovery from red mud was performed by applying charcoal-based reduction of hematite (α-Fe₂O₃), the most present component in red mud, to magnetite (Fe₃O₄), an iron oxide with a wide range of applicability.