Enviro News Asia, Lampung — The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN), through its Research Center for Mineral Technology (PRTM), is advancing research on strategic minerals and industrial waste utilization to support greener and more sustainable mineral downstreaming in Indonesia.
The initiative was highlighted during the 10th edition of the Strategic Minerals of Indonesia Discussion webinar held on Thursday (August 13). The forum presented recent research findings while providing opportunities for collaboration between BRIN, universities, industry, and other stakeholders.
Head of PRTM BRIN Fajar Nurjaman said mineral processing research in Indonesia is increasingly shifting from conventional downstreaming toward the utilization of mining residues and industrial waste to create higher-value products.
Researchers are now exploring technologies that can transform mining and industrial waste into valuable secondary resources while reducing environmental impacts. Fajar emphasized that environmentally friendly processing technologies and green metallurgy will be increasingly important in strengthening the downstreaming of strategic minerals.
Two innovations were highlighted during the webinar: the conversion of bauxite residue, or red mud, into high-value products, and the use of palm kernel shell biocoke as an environmentally friendly reducing agent for nickel and iron processing.
BRIN researcher Sariman presented research on transforming bauxite residue through pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical approaches. He noted that Indonesia generates an estimated 6–10 million tonnes of high-pH bauxite residue annually, creating both environmental challenges and economic opportunities.
Bauxite residue contains significant amounts of iron, ranging from approximately 20–60%, as well as rare earth elements such as neodymium, scandium, and lanthanum.
Research presented during the webinar showed that optimized sulfuric acid leaching could achieve recovery rates of up to 99.6% for neodymium and 80.3% for scandium.
The approach demonstrates the potential to convert industrial waste into high-value secondary resources while supporting circular economy principles and improving resource efficiency.
Meanwhile, Asful Hariyadi, a lecturer at the Institut Teknologi Kalimantan, presented research on palm kernel shell biocarbon as an alternative reducing agent for nickel and iron processing.
The research addresses Indonesia’s dependence on coal-based coke, which contributes significantly to carbon emissions during metal smelting. Abundant palm kernel shell waste can instead be processed into renewable biocoke.
According to the research, palm kernel shell biocoke contains more than 80% fixed carbon and has mechanical strength suitable for use in blast furnace applications. Tests involving ferronickel smelting recorded recovery rates of up to 92% for nickel and 88% for iron.
A Life Cycle Assessment also indicated that integrating palm kernel shell biocoke could significantly reduce global warming potential to below 0.5 kilograms of CO2 equivalent per kilogram of product, substantially lower than conventional coal-based coke.
The research presented by BRIN and its academic partners highlights the potential of green metallurgy to support Indonesia’s mineral downstreaming agenda. By converting mining and industrial waste into valuable materials and replacing carbon-intensive inputs with renewable alternatives, these innovations could contribute to a more circular, low-carbon, and environmentally sustainable mineral industry. (*)
