Setelah melewati rangkaian perkuliahan teori Elektrometalurgi yang menantang, mahasiswa/i Program Studi Teknologi Metalurgi Semester 4 T.A. 2021/2022 kini telah menyelesaikan Praktikum ElectroWinning Tembaga bertempat di Laboratorium Metalurgi Ekstraktif. Selama satu hari penuh bertepatan pada hari Jumat, tanggal 20 Mei 2022, para mahasiswa/i dihadapkan dalam kegiatan praktikum yang menuntut pemahaman Proses pemurnian Tembaga dari larutan Tembaga Sulfat, dengan mengedepankan kemampuan analitis dan perhatian terhadap detail setiap peristiwa yang terjadi pada rangkaian Sel ElectroWinning Tembaga.
Selama kegiatan praktikum ElectroWinning Tembaga, mahasiswa/i mampu melaksanakan kegiatan pengamatan dari 3 modul yang disajikan, yaitu Modul 1 Efisiensi Arus, Modul 2 Pengaruh Rapat Arus dan Modul 3 Pengaruh Konsentrasi Larutan.
ElectroWinning sendiri adalah salah satu cabang dari Elektrometalurgi, dimana Elektrometalurgi adalah cabang ilmu metalurgi ekstraktif yang memanfaatkan energi luar berupa arus listrik untuk merekayasa proses ekstraksi logam berharga, selain Pirometalurgi (Pemanfaatan energi panas) dan Hidrometalurgi (Pemanfaatan media basah/ cair).
Melalui praktikum ElectroWinning Tembaga ini, diharapkan mahasiswa/i Teknologi Metalurgi mampu menguasai konsep dan sisi praktikal proses parameter dan menjadi key player, guna menjawab kebutuhan sumber daya manusia yang handal dalam penguasaan konsep keilmuan dan teknologi proses ElectroWinning Tembaga, dimana pada sektor Hulu pengolahan tembaga menjadi barang mentah (Intermediate product) merupakan sektor strategis nasional dalam pemenuhan konsumsi domestik dan juga mendukung program kemandirian energi dari sisi pemenuhan bahan dan alat Instalasi pembangkit energi dalam negeri.
After completing the challenging theoretical classes on Electrometallurgy, the second year students of the Department of Metallurgical Technology had a practicum class on ElectroWinning. The practicum took place at Extractive Metallurgy Lab on Friday May 20th. This practicum was aimed to train students’ comprehension on the process of copper refinement from copper sulfate solution, especially their analytical skills and attention to details of everything happen within the Copper ElectroWInning circuit.
Within the session, three modules were presented: Module 1 Current Efficiency, Module 2 Effects of Current Density, and Module 3 Effects of Concentration. ElectroWinning is a branch of Electrometallurgy, which is also a branch of Extractive Metallurgy. Electrometallurgy uses electric current in manipulating the extraction process of precious metals. Other notable fields are Pyrometallurgy ( which uses thermal energy) and Hydrometallurgy (which uses aqueous solution).
Through this practicum on Copper Electrowinning, students are expected to understand the practical concepts in terms of the process and parameters, so that they could be the key players in the industry. This is to satisfy the need of capable human resource who is adept at the scientific and technological concepts of Copper Electrowinning. It is noteworthy that in up-stream industries, the processing of copper into their intermediate products is a nationally strategic sector. This sector is aimed to satisfy domestic need and support the national program of energy independence in terms of supplying tools and equipments for electric plants installation on national level.
