Selective Oxidative Precipitation of MHP (Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate)

Mixed Hydroxide Precipitate (MHP) becomes precious material amidst the surge of battery demand for electric vehicles. MHP is one of intermediate products of nickel laterite ore processing through hydrometallurgical stream. According to the Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources data, Indonesia produces 249,000 tons of MHP per annum from the big four Indonesian nickel smelter. From MHP processing, it can be yielded the high grade of nickel sulfate and cobalt sulfate. However, technology innovation is strongly needed to improve the quantity and quality process related to environment sustainability. Prof. M. Zaki Mubarok, Institute Technology of Bandung, presents selective oxidative precipitation method for synthesizing the MHP in the keynote stage of ICB-REV 2021.

At glance, Professor Zaki proposed method comprises a leaching step using sulfuric acid to dissolve the nickel and cobalt from mixed hydroxide precipitates, and subsequently, an oxidative precipitation step to separate the dissolved nickel and cobalt from MHP using ozone as the oxidant. The promising result is attained with 97% nickel and 96% cobalt dissolved from leaching experiments. In addition, the ability of ozone to affect cobalt and nickel oxidation enables their precipitation. Kindly watch Prof. Zaki’s keynote session through this link:  https://youtu.be/Z83wteGAMak