Evaluasi Biokarbon Sebagai Reduktan Pada Pengolahan Bijih Nikel Laterit

Susanto, Agus Triwahyuono Nugroho Noto (2025) Evaluasi Biokarbon Sebagai Reduktan Pada Pengolahan Bijih Nikel Laterit. Masters thesis, Institut Teknologi Sepuluh Nopember.

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Abstract

Indonesia berkomitmen untuk mengurangi emisi CO2 sebesar 31,89% tanpa syarat pada tahun 2030, sebagaimana tercermin dalam Enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) yang dilaporkan pada tahun 2022. Sektor pertambangan, termasuk pertambangan dan peleburan nikel, menyumbang sekitar 10% dari emisi karbon terkait energi global dan harus berperan dalam mencapai target ini. Industri pengolahan nikel laterit saat ini menghadapi tantangan untuk menurunkan emisi karbon seiring dengan peningkatan kebutuhan nikel dunia. Penelitian ini mengevaluasi kelayakan teknis substitusi batubara dengan biokarbon (arang cangkang sawit, arang kayu karet, arang kayu campuran, dan briket arang) dalam proses reduksi dan peleburan bijih saprolit. Metodologi penelitian meliputi karakterisasi kimia, uji kalsinasi pada temperatur 950°C, dan uji peleburan langsung (direct smelting) pada 1550°C dengan variasi dosis karbon 1,51% (stoikiometri) dan 3,02% (berlebih). Hasil karakterisasi mengungkap perbedaan morfologi antara biokarbon dan batubara. Biokarbon mempertahankan struktur pori biologis yang membantu terjadinya reaksi Boudouard yang lebih baik. Sehingga pada tahap kalsinasi, arang kayu karet menghasilkan derajat metalisasi nikel sebesar 14,93%, jauh melampaui batubara yang hanya mencapai 4,64%. Pada tahap peleburan langsung dengan dosis karbon 1,51%, penggunaan batubara menyebabkan penurunan kualitas logam dengan kadar nikel turun ke 48,89%. Hal ini disebabkan tingginya zat terbang yang memicu reduksi besi berlebih. Sebaliknya, arang kayu karet menunjukkan selektivitas tinggi, menghasilkan fasa logam dengan kadar nikel 86,95% serta meminimalkan kehilangan nikel ke terak (NiO < 0,3%). Penambahan karbon hingga 3,02% menghilangkan selektivitas pada seluruh reduktan, menghasilkan paduan dominan besi (>80%). Berdasarkan hasil penelitian semua biokarbon yang diuji dapatberfungsi sebagai agen pereduksi yang layak menggantikan batubara dalam teknologi Rotary Kiln-Electric Furnace (RKEF), menawarkan efisiensi proses yang lebih tinggi serta potensi penurunan emisi CO2 melalui mekanisme netralitas karbon dan efisiensi reduksi.
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Indonesia is committed to reducing its CO2 emissions by 31.89% unconditionally by 2030, as reflected in its Enhanced Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) reported in 2022. The mining sector, including nickel mining and smelting, contributes around 10% of global energy-related carbon emissions and must play a role in achieving this target. The nickel laterite processing industry faces challenge to reducing carbon footprints. This study evaluates the technical feasibility of substituting coal with biocarbon (Rubber Wood Charcoal, Palm Shell Charcoal, Mixed Wood Charcoal, and Briquettes Charcoal) in the reduction and smelting of saprolitic ore. The investigation involved chemical characterization, reduction-calcination tests at 950°C, and direct smelting tests at 1550°C under stoichiometric (1.51%) and excess carbon dosages (3.02%). Characterization of calcine shows morphological differences between biocarbon and coal, where biocarbon retains a biological pore structure that facilitates Boudouard reaction. Biocarbon also demonstrated superior performance compared to coal. In the calcination stage, the reactivity of Rubber Wood Charcoal yielded a nickel metallization degree of 14.93%, significantly surpassing coal, which only reached 4.64%. In direct smelting with 1.51% carbon, coal usage resulted in metal quality degradation, with nickel grade dropping to 48.89% due to high volatile matter triggering excessive iron reduction.While, Rubber Wood Charcoal and other biocarbon exhibited high selectivity, producing metal fase with 860.12% - 90.10% nickel content while minimizing nickel loss to slag (NiO < 0.3%). However, increasing carbon dosage to 3.02% eliminated selectivity across all reductants, yielding iron-dominant metal (Fe>80%). It is concluded that all tested biocarbon functions as a reducing agent suitable for substituting coal in Rotary Kiln-Electric Furnace (RKEF) technology, offering higher process efficiency and significant CO2 emission reduction potential through carbon neutrality and reduction efficiency mechanisms.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	renewable reductant, RKEF process, Biocarbon, Laterite, Nickel Ore, Decarbonization
Subjects:	T Technology > TN Mining engineering. Metallurgy > TN799.N6 Nickel--Metallurgy
Divisions:	Faculty of Industrial Technology and Systems Engineering (INDSYS) > Material & Metallurgical Engineering > 27101-(S2) Master Thesis
Depositing User:	Agus Triwahyuono Nugroho Noto Susanto
Date Deposited:	28 Jan 2026 03:40
Last Modified:	28 Jan 2026 03:40
URI:	http://repository.its.ac.id/id/eprint/130673

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