Red mud—a strongly alkaline solid waste discharged from alumina production—is transforming from "industrial waste" into an "urban iron mine." On June 25, 2026, at the China Red Mud Comprehensive Utilization Technology Innovation and Development Forum held in Zibo, Shandong, Beijing Hydrogen Metallurgy Technology released the "Simonte Suspension Magnetization Roasting" technology. With a magnetization rate exceeding 95%, it converts weakly magnetic ferric oxide (Fe₂O₃) in red mud into strongly magnetic magnetite (Fe₃O₄), creating conditions for subsequent low-intensity magnetic separation to produce iron concentrate with an iron grade above 62%. This technology makes iron extraction from red mud economically feasible for the first time, providing solid underlying technical support for the green integrated development of China's steel and aluminum basic industries.

Red Mud—A Hazard When Stockpiled, Yet No Alternative

Red mud is a bulk alkaline solid waste generated during alumina production. According to statistics, China's red mud utilization rate has long remained below 10%, with most red mud still being stockpiled. This not only occupies vast land resources but also causes severe environmental pollution. Its comprehensive utilization has long been constrained by economic viability and scalability bottlenecks.

The root of the problem lies in the form of iron minerals in red mud. Hematite's main component is Fe₂O₃ (ferric oxide), which is inherently non-magnetic, making it impossible to extract iron at low cost through conventional magnetic separation. Traditional coal-based rotary kiln magnetization roasting processes use coal as both a reducing agent and heat source, attempting to convert Fe₂O₃ into strongly magnetic Fe₃O₄ (magnetite) through mild reduction reactions, followed by low-intensity magnetic separation to extract iron concentrate. However, rotary kiln processes suffer from significant drawbacks such as high energy consumption, low efficiency, difficult control, and susceptibility to sticking and ring formation, resulting in poor economic performance.

Thus, red mud comprehensive utilization has fallen into an seemingly unsolvable dilemma: it contains substantial iron resources, yet extraction costs are too high, leaving stockpiling as the only option. Stockpiling poses hazards, but there is no viable alternative.

Gas-Based Reduction + Suspension Reaction: A "Transformative" Approach for Red Mud

Beijing Hydrogen Metallurgy Technology's innovative Simonte technology, based on a "gas-based reduction + suspension reaction" model, fundamentally overturns the technical logic of traditional magnetization roasting.

From "Pile Combustion" to "Suspension Reaction"

The core of Simonte technology lies in suspending finely ground red mud powder in a reactor, rapidly completing the magnetization conversion from Fe₂O₃ to Fe₃O₄ under precisely controlled reducing atmosphere and temperature conditions.

The key breakthroughs of this technology are reflected in three aspects:

First, a revolutionary improvement in reaction efficiency. In the suspended state, gas-solid contact efficiency is extremely high, significantly accelerating reaction rates. Reactions that take tens of minutes or even hours in traditional rotary kilns can be completed rapidly in the suspended state. Compared to traditional rotary kilns, this technology improves thermal energy utilization by over 50%, substantially reducing reducing agent and energy costs.

Second, a leap in equipment operational stability. The suspended state operation completely avoids common rotary kiln issues such as material sticking and ring formation, making equipment operation more stable and reliable. This is not merely an improvement in technical parameters; it means production lines can operate continuously and stably for extended periods, removing the biggest obstacle to industrial-scale adoption.

Third, a qualitative change in magnetization effect. Under precisely controlled conditions, Simonte technology can convert weakly magnetic ferric oxide in red mud into strongly magnetic magnetite, achieving a magnetization rate of over 95%. This creates conditions for subsequent low-intensity magnetic separation to produce iron concentrate with an iron grade above 62%.

Compared to existing suspension magnetization technologies on the market, Simonte achieves a triple advantage of higher efficiency, lower energy consumption, and lower cost.

Technical Origins: From Hydrogen-Based Shaft Furnace to Suspension Magnetization Roasting

Beijing Hydrogen Metallurgy Technology's technical accumulation is not achieved overnight. This technology company, integrating advanced capabilities from the University of Science and Technology Beijing and the China Metallurgical Design Institute, has long-standing expertise in iron oxide reduction reactions.

In the field of hydrogen-based shaft furnaces, Beijing Hydrogen Metallurgy Technology has developed a domestically produced hydrogen-based shaft furnace with late-mover advantages through process reengineering and independent R&D of modular equipment, achieving a "Chinese-style surpassing" of international advanced levels. Its technical solution has successfully promoted the large-scale development of Algeria's 3.5 billion tons of high-phosphorus iron ore, opening up an entirely new technical pathway for the resource utilization of China's low-grade hematite and alumina red mud.

From hydrogen-based shaft furnaces to suspension magnetization roasting furnaces, Beijing Hydrogen Metallurgy Technology's technical layout reflects a clear strategic主线: rooted in a deep understanding of iron oxide reduction mechanisms, leveraging disruptive process innovations to provide industrial pathways for the economic development of low-grade iron-bearing resources.

From "Waste" to "Resource," from "Single-Industry Governance" to "Cross-Industry Synergy"

The significance of Simonte technology extends far beyond a mere improvement in process parameters. It is reshaping the cost curve of red mud comprehensive utilization, creating new possibilities for synergistic development between the steel and aluminum industries.

A Fundamental Breakthrough in Economic Feasibility

Currently, China's iron ore resources are highly dependent on imports, while the substantial iron resources contained in red mud have long remained underutilized. Simonte technology makes iron extraction from red mud economically feasible for the first time.

When red mud production sites are located near steel plants, the iron concentrate extracted can be directly supplied to steel enterprises. This not only reduces logistics costs but also opens up a new source of iron units for the steel industry. This model will significantly lower raw material costs for steel enterprises and fundamentally change the traditional perception of "red mud = industrial waste."

Precise Alignment with Policy Incentives

Policies such as the "Red Mud Comprehensive Utilization Action Plan" explicitly encourage deeper cooperation between the steel and aluminum industries, promoting the application of red mud products in ironmaking processes. The emergence of Simonte technology provides a concrete technical foundation for realizing this policy direction.

From "waste" to "resource," from single-industry governance to cross-industry synergy, Simonte technology opens up a new landscape for the large-scale resource utilization of red mud.

From Red Mud to a Broader Battlefield of Low-Grade Resources

The application scenarios of Simonte technology are not limited to red mud. Suspension magnetization roasting technology itself was originally developed as an innovative technology for processing complex refractory iron ores such as micro-fine hematite, limonite, siderite, specularite, and high-phosphorus oolitic hematite. Beijing Hydrogen Metallurgy Technology's successful practice on Algeria's high-phosphorus iron ore has already demonstrated that this technology is capable of processing various types of low-grade iron-bearing resources.

From low-grade hematite to alumina red mud, from China's solid waste resource utilization to the development of massive overseas iron ore deposits, Simonte technology is opening up a new, high-efficiency, low-energy, low-cost technical pathway for the utilization of low-grade iron-bearing resources in China and globally.

Contributing a "Hydrogen Metallurgy Solution" to the "Dual Carbon" Goals

The comprehensive utilization of red mud is not only an environmental issue but also a resource security issue. Against the backdrop of the "dual carbon" goals driving the green transformation of the steel industry, the strategic value of Simonte technology is particularly prominent:

First, opening up new sources of iron units for China. China's dependence on imported iron ore has long remained above 80%. If the substantial iron resources contained in red mud can be economically extracted and utilized, it will directly reduce reliance on imported iron ore and enhance the resource security of China's steel industry.

Second, promoting synergistic carbon reduction in the steel and aluminum industries. Traditional red mud stockpiling not only occupies land but also poses environmental risks. Simonte technology transforms red mud from an "environmental liability" into a "resource asset," while simultaneously providing a low-carbon source of iron units for the steel industry, achieving green synergy between the two basic industries.

Third, providing a Chinese solution for low-grade resource development. Globally, the resource utilization of low-grade iron ores and iron-bearing solid wastes is a worldwide challenge. The success of Simonte technology not only solves China's red mud problem but also provides a replicable and scalable technical paradigm for the global mining and metallurgical industries.

From "industrial solid waste" to "urban mineral," Simonte suspension magnetization roasting technology is rewriting the fate of red mud. As experts at the forum agreed: technological innovation is reshaping the cost curve of red mud utilization, and the comprehensive utilization of red mud has entered a critical window period for technological breakthroughs and industrial promotion.