Rio Tinto Group (ASX:RIO) and Geomega Resources are collaborating to develop the bauxite residue valorization technology, Geomega said in a statement Wednesday.

Rio Tinto provided Geomega with a specific range of parameters for purities and particle sizes, which have now been successfully confirmed and validated by Rio Tinto's team.

The technology is divided into three consecutive circuits, which are being tested and scaled up individually.

The first circuit focuses on alkalinity removal and the production of several important off-take streams such as sodium, calcium, aluminum, and silica products, Geomega said. The second circuit deals with iron extraction and removal. The third circuit deals with the remaining high-value metals, and Geomega is currently developing a cost-efficient circuit to extract and purify a rare earths concentrate as well as a titanium concentrate.

Pilot test work has been completed for the first and second circuits, which has allowed the Canadian firm to produce a representative sample of the residue needed for the piloting of the third circuit, which is planned for 2025.

Geomega and Rio Tinto have signed an extension to their collaboration agreement to continue the work on the third circuit as part of the project that was launched in March 2022.

In parallel, Geomega and Rio Tinto are planning the next phase for the first and second circuits based on the encouraging results.

Rio Tinto's shares rose nearly 2% in recent trading on Thursday.