Using polluting red mud for greener metal production

A lake from above with red sludge spreading across its brown waters. There are houses and trees on the banks.

Source: © Ajdin Kamber/Shutterstock

Transforming toxic mud into iron in a breakthrough for steelmaking sustainability

Use this story and the summary slide to help 14–16 learners better understand metal extraction and sustainability with this real-world context. Researchers have unlocked a new method to transform red mud, a harmful byproduct of aluminum production, into a sustainable source of iron for steelmaking. This innovation not only addresses environmental concerns surrounding red mud disposal, but also offers a promising solution to reduce carbon emissions in steel manufacturing.

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