Enviro News Asia, South Tangerang — National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) is developing an innovative catalyst based on ferrosilicon (FeSi) to address complex and persistent pollutants that are difficult to decompose.
Lead researcher Oman Zuas from BRIN’s Research Center for Catalysis explained that the study focuses on interface engineering between FeSi alloys and oxides through partial oxidation, aiming to enhance catalytic performance in degrading stable pollutants generated by industrial and healthcare activities.
The synthesis process is conducted at relatively low temperatures of around 60°C with oxidation lasting less than two hours, followed by a 12-hour drying stage. Acid-based oxidizers are also used to optimize the material characteristics.
Initial findings revealed the formation of key phases such as Fe₃O₄ and amorphous SiO₂, confirmed through X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Further characterization using FTIR identified functional groups including Fe–O, Si–O–Si, and O–H, indicating successful development of an active catalytic interface.
This approach offers advantages such as simplicity, cost efficiency, and scalability, making it a promising solution for sustainable pollutant treatment. The research also supports Indonesia’s efforts in environmental pollution control and advances in catalytic technology.
Future studies will focus on advanced characterization and application testing to ensure optimal catalyst performance and broader industrial implementation. (*)
