BRIN Researcher Discovers More Optimal Nickel Processing Technology

A researcher from the Metallurgy Research Centre at the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), Iwan Setiawan, has developed a more efficient, flexible, and low-waste innovation for processing nickel ore, capable of optimising the comprehensive utilisation of resources. Iwan explained that this technology can utilise 98 percent of the waste material from nickel ore. The innovation has also resulted in approximately five patents related to the processing method developed by the BRIN Metallurgy Research Centre team. “Nickel ore generally contains only about 1 to 2 percent nickel. This means that more than 98 percent of the other material could potentially become waste if not utilised. Therefore, any processing method must be able to optimise the use of all components contained in the ore,” he said. According to him, the innovation developed by BRIN has the advantage of being able to process two types of nickel ore at once, namely saprolite and limonite, within a single process approach. The technology is a modification of the Caron process, adapted to the current conditions of Indonesia’s nickel reserves. “Nickel reserves are constantly changing, and the quality of the ore is also increasingly varied. Because of this, new technology is needed that is more adaptive to the characteristics of the available ore,” he stated. Besides being capable of processing various types of ore, the technology is also designed to reduce energy consumption compared to conventional pyrometallurgical processes. One of its main advantages is minimising waste by utilising other elements that have not been optimally exploited so far. In the process developed by BRIN, not only is nickel extracted, but also the iron and magnesium contained in the ore. Iron can be processed into value-added products such as Fe2O3 for pigments or iron oxalate for battery raw materials, while magnesium is processed into compounds that can be used for various industrial needs. He added that this approach aligns with the concept of resource efficiency and circular economy, which is the current direction of mineral industry development in many countries. “The principle is that no resources are wasted. Nickel, iron, and magnesium are all processed into products with economic value, so that waste can be minimised,” Iwan said. The development of this technology has been carried out up to laboratory and semi-pilot scales. The research team has successfully tested the process in capacities of tens to hundreds of kilograms to prove its feasibility. However, Iwan acknowledged that the next challenge is the construction of a larger-scale pilot plant to validate the technical and economic aspects before the technology can be implemented in the industrial sector. “At the laboratory scale, the results have been very good. The next stage is to scale up the process through a pilot plant, so that its economic feasibility for industrial needs can be proven,” concluded Iwan Setiawan.