Pengaruh leaching asam sulfat dan reduksi roasting pada ekstrasi nikel limonil di PT Sucofindo , Jawa Barat
I Indonesia merupakan salah satu negara yang memiliki cadangan nikel terbesar didunia. Estimasi cadangan nikel sebesar 221 juta ton. 72% merupakan nikel oksida, sehingga meningkatkan pengolahan dan pemanfaatan nikel oksida bijih limonit. Sampel nikel bijih limonit diambil dari Sorowako, Sulawesi Selatan dan uji lab dilakukan di Laboratorium Sucofindo, Jawa Barat. Proses pengolahan nikel bijih limonit dilakukan dengan membandingkan proses hidrometalurgi dengan metode leaching (non reduksi) dan proses pirometalurgi dengan metoderoasting (reduksi). Metode penelitian yang digunakan adalah metode komparatif,sehingga menggunakan perbandingan metode, konsentrasi zat pelarut dan uji karakterisasi sampel dalam penentuan kadar dan recovery nikel bijih limonit.Pengolahan sampel nikel bijih limonit dengan variasi konsentrasi zat asam sulfatsebesar 0,1 M, 0,2 M, 0,3 M, 0,4 M, dan 0,5 M. Roasting dilakukan pada suhu 600oC, selama 1 jam. Kadar dan recovery sampel nikel bijih limonit terbesar didapat pada konsentrasi 0,5 M. Uji karakterisasi sampel dilakukan dengan uji XRay Fluorescence untuk mengetahui kandungan unsur yang terdapat pada sampel awal sebelum reduksi, dan setelah reduksi. Sementara, uji X-Ray Diffraction dilakukan untuk mengetahui fasa yang terbentuk pada sampel non reduksi dan reduksi. Fasa yang terbentuk adalah geotit FeO(OH) dan hematit Fe2O3. Sedangkan, uji Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy dilakukan untuk mengetahui kadar sampel nikel bijih limonit secara lebih spesifik. Ukuran sampel yang digunakan 100 mesh. Pada sampel non reduksi, nilai kadar sampel nikel bijih limonit terbesar adalah 4,17% dengan nilai recovery sebesar 79%. Sedangkan,pada sampel reduksi, nilai kadar sampel nikel bijih limonit terbesar adalah 4,80% dengan nilai recovery sebesar 93,48%. Semakin tinggi konsentrasi zat pelarut yang digunakan, semakin tinggi kadar dan recovery sampel nikel bijih limonit yang dihasilkan.
I Indonesia is one of the largest nickel reserves in the world. Estimated nickel reserves of 221 million tons. 72% is nickel oxide, thus increasing the processing and utilization of limonite ore nickel oxide. Nickel limonite ore samples were taken from Sorowako, South Sulawesi and lab tests were carried out at Sucofindo Laboratory, West Java. The limonite ore nickel processing is carried out by comparing the hydrometallurgical process with the leaching (non-reduction) method and the pirometallurgical process by method of reduction (reduction). The research method used was a comparative method, using a comparison of methods, solvent concentrations and sample characterization tests in determining the levels and recovery of nickel limonite ore. Processing of samples of limonite ore with variations in the concentration of sulfuric acid by 0.1 M, 0.2 M, 0.3 M, 0.4 M, and 0.5 M. Roasting was carried out at 600oC, for 1 hour. The highest level and recovery of the nickel limonite ore samples were obtained at a concentration of 0.5 M. The sample characterization test was carried out by the XRay Fluorescence test to determine the elemental content contained in the initial sample before reduction, and after reduction. Meanwhile, the X-Ray Diffraction test was conducted to determine the phase formed in the non-reduction and reduction samples. The phase formed is geotite FeO (OH) and hematite Fe2O3. Meanwhile, the Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy test was carried out to determine the concentration of nickel ore limonite samples more specifically. The sample size used is 100 mesh. In the non-reduction sample, the largest value of the limonite ore nickel sample content was 4.17% with a recovery value of 79%. Meanwhile, in the reduction sample, the largest value of the limonite ore nickel sample content was 4.80% with a recovery value of 93.48%. The higher the concentration of solvent used, the higher the level and recovery of the sample of limonite ore produced.