US Critical Materials and Columbia University to advance domestic recovery of defense-critical metals from red mud

US Critical Materials Corp and Columbia University have signed a two-year research agreement to develop methods for recovering gallium, scandium, titanium, and rare-earth elements from red mud, a byproduct of aluminum refining. The project, named 'Mud To Metal', aims to enhance domestic production of these critical metals, which are essential for defense and aerospace applications. Led by Professor Greeshma Gadikota, the program will explore various recovery technologies and their potential deployment, addressing the US's reliance on imports for these strategic materials.