ASIATODAY.ID, SERPONG – The Indonesian National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) and Malaysia’s Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) signed a Collaboration Agreement on Research on the Development of Processing Technology of Rare Earth Elements Carbonate For Non Radioactive Rare Earth Oxide.
The signing of this Agreement was carried out by the Head of the BRIN Nuclear Materials and Radioactive Waste Technology Research Center, Maman Kartaman Ajiriyanto and the Director of the Institute of Sustainability, Energy and Resources UTP Malaysia, Syahir Rida in the B.J. Science and Technology Area. Habibie Serpong, Tuesday, 19 November 2024.
Maman Kartaman Ajiriyanto revealed that BRIN has sufficient experience in processing rare earths in Indonesia.
“We already have sufficient experience in processing rare earth carbonates or also rare earth oxides from waste or tailings or tin slag, and tin waste, namely monazite and others,” he explained, quoted on Thursday, November 21 2024.
Since 2015 Indonesia has formed a rare earth processing consortium. One of the technological outputs is that BRIN is able to process rare earths with a capacity large enough for research scale, namely around 50 kg/batch.
“From a research perspective, it is quite large. “We also have process experience of more than 20 processes that produce rare earths with concentrations of more than 90%,” said Maman.
Furthermore, Maman explained that one of the more important things is that the Uranium and Thorium levels are less than around 50 or 100 ppm. So BRIN can process it from monazite sand to reduce the Uranium and Thorium levels to less than 50 ppm.
According to Maman, apart from being carried out by BRIN researchers, this research activity will also be assisted by Masters and Doctoral students who are taking part in the Degree by Research (DBR) program at BRIN.
“The hope is that this collaboration will run smoothly and sustainably in accordance with the agreed points and produce something that is beneficial for both parties, as well as beneficial from a science and technology perspective,” he added.
On this occasion, Director of the Institute of Sustainability, Energy and Resources UTP Malaysia, Syahir Rida said that currently Malaysia is prioritizing rare earth research and focusing on iron absorption.
He understands that rare earth research is very strategic, therefore collaboration is needed so that research runs sustainably.
“We understand that at BRIN the technology for processing has reached pelleting, sourced from monosite. “Meanwhile, companies in Malaysia have been operating mining for rare earth metals sourced from iron absorption clay for around 3-4 years,” said Syahrir.
Meanwhile, CEO of RXT Greensnow Synergy, SDN. BHD, Nik Abdul Mubin Bin Nik Mahmood, expressed his hope that this research collaboration within one year could produce a blueprint for rare earth separation technology.
“This is the beginning of the rare earth element processing industry,” he said.
Within the next year, he hopes to produce a blueprint related to the technology for separating rare earth element carbonate from non-radioactive rare earth element oxide. This blueprint is very useful for Malaysia to be able to develop again.
“We are upscaling and we will build a commercialized plant which will be built together with Greensnow, UTP and also the Malaysian Nuclear Agency,” he added.
Apart from the Nuclear Energy Research Organization, this collaboration also includes the Nanotechnology and Materials Research Organization (ORNM), through the Mining Technology Research Center (PRTPb).
Head of the BRIN Photonics Research Center (PRF), Isnaeni, representing the Head of ORNM, said that ORNM has quite complete facilities to support mineral research, one of which is in the Iskandar Zulkarnain Lampung Science Area.
“BRIN’s facilities there are devoted to research in the mineral and mining sector, from process to testing, very complete. “We also have a collaboration platform, a research topic that is favored at BRIN, from ORNM we have proposed a collaboration platform for critical minerals, many elements including rare earths,” explained Isnaeni.
Head of PRTPb BRIN, Anggoro Tri Mursito explained that PRTPb has seven research groups, one of which is dedicated and specific to rare earth element minerals processing which is not only limited to processing, but also refining. Apart from that, PRTPB also has a rare earth processing research collaboration platform involving UTP.
“Hopefully, friends from UTP or from Malaysia in general can also contribute,” he concluded. (AT Network)
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