Initial Treatment For Lithium And Boron Extraction From PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy Tbk Brine Via Chemical Precipitation For Sustainable Energy Transition

Bogie Lesmana; Bima Bharata Shena; Martha Aznury; Dilia Puspa; Anerasari Meidinariasty

Authors

Bogie Lesmana Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya Author
Bima Bharata Shena Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya Author
Martha Aznury Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya Author
Dilia Puspa Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya Author
Anerasari Meidinariasty Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya Author

Keywords:

Lithium extraction, Boron recovery, Geothermal brine, Chemical precipitation, Sustainable energy transition

Abstract

The increasing demand for critical minerals such as lithium and boron is driven by the rapid growth of electric vehicles, clean energy transition, and sustainable material applications. Geothermal brine, a by-product of geothermal power generation, offers significant potential as an alternative source of these elements. This study investigated the extraction of lithium and boron from geothermal brine sourced from PT Pertamina Geothermal Energy Tbk, Lumut Balai Area. Lithium was recovered using a chemical precipitation method with sodium carbonate (Na₂CO₃) at 80°C and pH 11, while boron was extracted via liquid–liquid extraction using 2-ethyl-1-hexanol in kerosene. For lithium, various reagent-to-brine ratios (1:5, 1:10, 1:15) and precipitation times (15–75 minutes) were tested, with optimal conditions at a 1:15 ratio and 60 minutes, yielding 28.9 ppm lithium and a 129.08% yield. For boron, the highest concentration of 43.6 ppm was obtained at a 1.5:1 phase ratio and 75 minutes, with subsequent purification returning boron to the aqueous phase. Application testing showed that the boron–borax mixture provided higher wood preservation performance (1.332 kg/m³) compared to pure borax (1.13 kg/m³), meeting SNI 03-5003.1-1999 standards. These findings demonstrate that geothermal brine can serve as a dual source of lithium and boron, supporting sustainable energy transition and eco-friendly material development in Indonesia.

Author Biographies

Bogie Lesmana, Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya

D4 TEKNOLOGI KIMIA INDUSTRI
JURUSAN TEKNIK KIMIA
POLITEKNIK NEGERI SRIWIJAYA
Bima Bharata Shena, Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya

D4 TEKNOLOGI KIMIA INDUSTRI
JURUSAN TEKNIK KIMIA
POLITEKNIK NEGERI SRIWIJAYA
Martha Aznury, Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya

Dosen Jurusan Teknik Kimia
Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya
Dilia Puspa, Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya

Dosen Jurusan Teknik Kimia
Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya
Anerasari Meidinariasty, Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya

Dosen jurusan Teknik Kimia

Politeknik Negeri Sriwijaya

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