Final Project Supervision:
Processing of Kalimantan
Zircon Sand as a Raw Material
for the Production of
Zirconium Metal.

Processing of Kalimantan Zircon Sand as Raw Material for Zirconium Metal Production is a research project focused on the development of zirconium extraction and purification technologies from Indonesia’s local zircon sand into high-value zirconium metal. The study encompasses beneficiation, zircon decomposition, leaching, zirconia synthesis, and metallothermic reduction processes to produce zirconium metal.

The research activities involve material synthesis, characterization using X-ray Diffraction (XRD), Scanning Electron Microscopy with Energy-Dispersive Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray Fluorescence (XRF), and Inductively Coupled Plasma Optical Emission Spectrometry (ICP-OES), as well as the analysis of extractive metallurgy processes.

Beyond the production of zirconium metal, the research also provides opportunities for developing advanced zirconium-based materials through composition engineering and the fabrication of composite materials with metals, oxides, carbon-based materials, and two-dimensional (2D) materials. The resulting materials have potential applications in supporting energy transition technologies, including energy storage, energy conversion, hydrogen technologies and fuel cells, sensors, catalysis, electronic devices, high-performance functional coatings, and corrosion- and high-temperature-resistant materials for aerospace, nuclear, semiconductor, biomedical, and advanced manufacturing industries.

This research topic supports the downstream processing of critical minerals, enhances the added value of Indonesia’s mineral resources, and contributes to strengthening the national strategic industrial self-reliance.