Reduksi Langsung Bijih Nikel Laterit Limonitik Dengan Variasi Jenis Fluks (Dolomite, Limestone, Quicklime) Terhadap Kadar Ni dan Fe Serta Morfologi Menggunakan Bed Batu Bara

Permintaan akan nikel diprediksi akan terus meningkat namun cadangan bijih nikel sulfide yang dominan digunakan dalam industry terus menurun hal ini menjadikan bijih nikel low grade laterit limonit menjadi peluang untuk pemenuhan nikel kedepannya. Baik proses pirometalurgi maupun hidrometalurgi telah diterapkan untuk mengolah bijih nikel laterit namun sampai sekarang belum ditemukannya proses yang optimal dalam pengelohan bijih nikel laterit karena kadarnya yang sangat rendah. Penelitian ini dilakukan dengan mereduksi bijih nikel laterit limonit untuk meningkatkan kadar Nikelnya dengan menggunakan gas CO hasil reaksi batu bara dengan variasi jenis fluks (dolomite, limestone, quicklime). Briket yang terdiri dari ore, batu bara, Natrium sulfat serta kanji dimasukkan ke dalam crucible bed yang terdiri dari campuran batu bara dan dolomit. Kemudian direduksi hingga temperatur 1400oC dengan waktu holding selama 6 jam. Pengujian EDX, XRD dan SEM dilakukan untuk mengetahui kadar Ni dan Fe serta morfologi hasil reduksi. Diharapkan dengan menentukan jenis fluks yang optimum mampu mengoptimalkan proses reduksi langsung dengan mendapatkan kadar dan recovery nikel tertinggi. Dari penelitian diperoleh peningkatan kadar Ni tertinggi dengan fluks limestone sebesar 21,68% namun recovery Ni tertinggi didapatkan dengan fluks dolomite sebesar 93,73%. ======================================================================================================== Demand for nickel is predicted to continue rise but the dominant sulfide ore reserves used in the industry has been decreased , this problem mak e low grade laterite limonite nickel ore become an opportunity for future nickel fulfillment. Both the pyrometallurgical and hydrometallurgical processes have been applied to recover the laterite nickel ore but yet no optimal process has been found in later iti nickel ore because of their very low purity . This research was conducted by reducing the limonite laterite nickel ore to increase its Nickel content by using CO gas of coal reaction with variation of flux type (dolomite, limestone, quicklime). Briquett es consisting of ore, coal, sodium sulphate (as selectivity agent for Ni) and starch are inserted into a crucible bed consisting of a mixture of coal and variation type of flux. Then preheat in temperature 700 0 C for 2 hours next, reduced to a temperature o f 1400 0 C with a holding time of 6 hours. The EDX, XRD and SEM tests were performed to determine the levels of Ni and Fe as well as the morphology of the reduction. It is hoped that by determining the optimum flux type can optimize the direct reduction proc ess by obtaining the highest levels and recovery of nickel. From the research, the highest Ni content with limestone flux was 21.68%, but the highest Ni recovery was obtained with dolomite flux of 93.73