Synthesis and characterization of pyrite mineral from rock deposits in Bantimurung Maros Regency of South Sulawesi

Abstract

Abstract The study has successfully obtained the mineral pyrite (iron pyrite persulfide) and Hematite (Fe2O3) of the natural resources in the Bantimurung District, Maros, South Sulawesi. The method used in this purification is the hydrothermal method. Based on the characterization results, it was obtained pyrite mineral with high purity (more than 90%). Based on the analysis, this material has a cubic structure P a -3 with lattice parameters a = 5.4167 Å and a space structure for the hematite group -R 32 c with lattice parameters a = 5.048 Å, b = 5.048 Å, and c = 13,762 Å. These results are consistent with the surface morphology characterized using SEM with various magnifications showing uneven particle distribution with a particle size of 5 µm-100 nm. The results of characterization and analysis of XRF and XRD show that the degree of crystallization and homogeneity of natural material deposits in Bantimurung are rich in iron, magnesium (Mg), sulfur (S), which appear with a high percentage, and high value minerals such as molybdenum (Mo) and neodymium with a low percentage. With this composition, the materials in Bantimurung have the potential to be used as photovoltaic coatings in solar cell applications, production of sulfur dioxide, paper industry, manufacture of sulfuric acid, semiconductor materials, and applications in sodium and lithium batteries.