Comparison of Pellet Press Methods Using Aluminum Cup and Ring Steel in Preparing Nickel Ore Test Samples Using ED-XRF

Abstract

Preparation of nickel ore test samples using Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (ED-XRF) with the press pellet method, especially in nickel mining in Indonesia, generally uses aluminum cups as sample containers, which produces solid waste in the form of aluminum cups. The purpose of this study is to find other alternatives to replace aluminum cups, namely by using steel rings while still paying attention to the accuracy and precision of such use. The research was conducted by comparing the results of the accuracy and precision tests of the use of the two methods on the nickel and iron elements contained in the nickel ore sample using CRM Oreas 192. The results of 10 measurements using ED-XRF Epsilon4 obtained data for the accuracy level (TA) of nickel concentration using an aluminum cup of 98.69% while in Ring steel it was 98.99%. For TA the concentration of iron using an Aluminum cup was 97.25% while in Ring steel it was 97.87%. Then for the results of the nickel element precision test data obtained were Aluminum cup %RSD<0.5CV horwitz (0.1371<1.8389), Ring steel %RSD<0.5 CVhorwitz (0.2126<1.8381), While the results of the Iron element precision test were Aluminum cup %RSD<CVhorwitz (0.1286<1.3705), Ring steel %RSD<0.5CVhorwitz (0.1736<1.3691). Based on the test results, it is known that the use of aluminum cups and steel rings in the preparation of nickel ore sample analysis using ED-XRF does not have a significant difference, and it is necessary to carry out pressure testing on the press machine for maximum results.