PRODUCTION OF NICKEL PIG IRON VIA REDUCTION OF SAPROLITIC NICKEL ORE USING TORREFIED BIOMASS

Nickel is one of the most important raw materials in the industry. It plays a crucial role in the production of stainless steel, used in various chemical process reactors. However, the method of extraction introduces a significant amount of carbon emission into the environment. With Indonesia aim...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Alfardan, Ahmad
Format: Final Project
Language:Indonesia
Online Access:https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/86162
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Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung
Language: Indonesia
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Summary:Nickel is one of the most important raw materials in the industry. It plays a crucial role in the production of stainless steel, used in various chemical process reactors. However, the method of extraction introduces a significant amount of carbon emission into the environment. With Indonesia aiming towards a zero net emission goal by 2060, a much cleaner method is in need to be found. Reduction is performed to extract nickel from saprolitic nickel ore. The reduction process traditionally use coal as a reductor. Torrefied biomass is a promising potential of a replacement. With the absence of coal, torrefied biomass can perform reduction successfully — with the absence of sulphur and other contaminants, Nickel and Iron will be able to be extracted in a higher concentration. The torrefaction is done in inert condition using Nitrogen and takes place at 300°C for 60 minutes. The torrefied biomasses are then mixed with 8 grams of saprolite ore using the 1:1 and 1:1.5 stoichiometric ratio to get the respective torrefied biomass total mass. This mixture is then reduced at 900°C for 3 hours in a muffle furnace and then proceeds to be smelted at 1550°C for 2 hours in a vertical furnace. The obtained sample results are analyzed using SEM-EDS (scanning electron microscopy-electron dispersive spectroscopy). The torrefaction process results in an increase of fixed carbon percentage in the torrefied biomass within the range of 5% to 15%. That gives the final fixed carbon percentage in the torrefied biomass of 20% up to 29%. This led to the selection of candlenut and palm kernel shell, mahogany and calliandra sawdust. The reduction stage gives a final mass percentage of nickel and iron of 6% to 12% and 82% to 86% using the 1:1 stoichiometric ratio; 5% to 7% and 65% to 78% using the 1:1.5 stoichiometric ratio respectively. The highest Ni content of 11.66% is obtained by using candlenut shell as reductor using 1:1 stoichiometry ratio