According to a report by MTI on Tuesday, October 30, a Hungarian consortium is working on ways to recycle alumina refinery residues, also known as red sludge, in a HUF 1.5 billion project supported by the European Union.
The R&D project, which will run until 2021, is supported by more than HUF 1 billion in European Union Funding, said project manager Márton Penk.
The consortium in Hungary is led by Martin Metals, which deals into recycling by-products from the aluminium industry. The other members of the consortium include University of Pannonia (Veszprém), earthworks and site development services provider Geovol, environmental services consultancy Golder Associates, and applied research institute Bay Zoltán Nonprofit.
Every year, Hungary reportedly generates over 50 billion tonnes of red sludge at aluminium industry plants in Ajka (Veszprém County), Almásfüzitő (Komárom-Esztergom County) and Mosonmagyaróvár (Győr-Moson-Sopron County), all in the west of the country, Penk said. So, this project, according to him, would help to recover metals and rare earth elements from the sludge that could be used for construction industry materials as well as in biological processes.
Moreover, this investment carries special significance in the eyes of Penk, as Hungary in 2010 had suffered one of its worst ever industrial incidents related to red sludge. A waste reservoir containing toxic red sludge in Ajka had collapsed, releasing 1 million cubic meters of liquid waste and resulting in a flood around nearby settlements. Initially, around 40 square kilometres of land were affected, but then a quick response and clean-up eventually brought in a full recovery.
Responses
