Abstract To further enhance red mud desulfurization, this paper analyzes red mud desulfurization under the action of ball mills and ultrasonic external fields and studies the red mud desulfurization mechanism. In this study, experiments were conducted using a bottom-blow stirred reactor device. The results show that the suitable red mud slurry concentration is 10 g/L. The raw red mud desulfurization can reach 100% absorption in the first 25 min, and the absorption capacity decreases gradually with the reaction time. The red mud desulfurization is mainly due to the dissolution of free alkali and metal oxides in the red mud. Under the action of the external field of the ball mill, the red mud particles can be refined to prolong the desulfurization time. Under the action of the external field of ultrasonic waves, the red mud slurry is dispersed more uniformly, which can accelerate the reaction rate. Under the effect of an ultrasonic external field, the red mud slurry is dispersed more uniformly, which can accelerate the reaction rate and dissolve more metal substances in the liquid phase.