Petrokimia Gresik secures patent for silica by-product innovation
PT Petrokimlar Gresik (Persero) has successfully obtained a Simple Patent Certificate from the Ministry of Law of the Republic of Indonesia regarding an innovation for utilising silica by-products as a filtering material for liquid sulphur in the sulphuric acid production process.
The President Director of Petrokimia Gresik, Daconi Khotob, explained that this innovation transforms a material that was previously a management challenge into a useful resource, while simultaneously reducing the company’s dependence on external suppliers for filtering materials.
“Through this innovation, we have not only found a solution for the silica by-products produced by the company, but we have also introduced an alternative filtering material that can support production process efficiency,” he stated in Jakarta on Tuesday.
Silica is a by-product of the aluminium fluoride (AlF₃) production process. Every month, this production unit generates approximately 990 tonnes of silica in solid form. This volume requires adequate management and storage areas.
This challenge prompted Petrokimia Gresik to develop silica as an alternative filtering material for the sulphuric acid production process.
Sulphuric acid is one of the key ingredients used in fertiliser production. The production process involves a stage of filtering liquid sulphur to produce clean material that meets quality standards.
Through this innovation, the silica resulting from aluminium fluoride production can now be utilised as an alternative filtering material in that process.
The use of silica provides dual benefits for the company. In addition to optimising by-products to ensure they have utility, the innovation also reduces the need for filtering materials from third parties and has the potential to lower production costs.
From an economic perspective, according to Daconi, the use of silica as an alternative filtering material is projected to provide potential savings of approximately Rp259.6 million per year.
This efficiency stems from the reduced need to purchase diatomaceous earth and the optimisation of silica by-product utilisation, which previously required separate management and storage.
“Through this innovation, we want to build a perspective that by-products are not always a management burden. With proper research and innovation, these materials can be developed into solutions that support industrial process efficiency and sustainability,” he said.
He continued that obtaining the Simple Patent Certificate serves as recognition of the innovation developed by Petrokimia Gresik to meet the company’s operational needs.
The innovation also opens opportunities for wider silica utilisation, including for other industries with similar process characteristics.
“Moving forward, we will continue to encourage the birth of innovations capable of creating added value for the company. Not only in terms of economics and efficiency, but also through the optimisation of resources and the more sustainable use of by-products,” he added.
Previously, during the “What’s Up Campus Calls Out” (WCCO) event organised by the Ministry of Law of the Republic of Indonesia in Jakarta, Minister of Law Supratman Andi Agtas presented the Simple Patent Certificate to the Senior Vice President (SVP) of Operations III of Petrokimia Gresik, Bambang Ariwibowo, representing the company’s management.