Rusal announced the first time production of scandium oxide from red mud

Russian aluminium major UC Rusal announced the first time production of scandium oxide in its smelter in the Ural Mountains known as UAZ at a concentration rate that exceeds 99%.

Initially, Rusal commissioned a pilot unit that for processing scandium concentrate into scandium oxide. The scientists at the Engineering and Technology Centre of Rusal developed the carbonization process, which isolates scandium from red mud. Rusal says that production of scandium oxide will have no negative effect upon alumina production.

The scandium oxide produced in the plant will be used to make aluminium-scandium alloys at its smelters. Rusal said that they would continue improving the pilot plant in an effort to reduce production costs as producing the material in-house will reduce cost in the scandium alloying process.

Scandium oxide or Sc2O3, is a high-melting rare-earth oxide and when it is alloyed with aluminium, the resulting alloy provides better heat and thermal shock resistance.

Commenting on this innovative production process Victor Mann, Director of RUSAL’s Research and Development said, “Scandium has vast potentials in aerospace, transport and energy industries. As of today, global consumption of scandium oxide estimates at 10-15 tonnes per year. In this regard, RUSAL has plans to develop a modular unit capable of increasing the capacity keeping up with market demand. The production will rely on the Company’s own raw material base and will fully meet demand not only in Russia, but globally.”

According to the firm, the process of extraction of scandium from red mud has started in 2013 and it has been working successfully till date. The unit was originally launched within the framework of the project in order to create the technology and the pilot production unit for red mud processing at the UAZ plant.