RRI.CO.ID, Jakarta - The National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) has successfully developed technology to process tin mining waste into high-value silicate ceramic products. This innovation has the potential to utilize approximately 16 billion cubic meters of tin mining waste that has been wasted, while also supporting the implementation of zero-waste mining and a circular economy.

In a press release received on July 29, 2026, a researcher at BRIN's Geological Resources Research Center, Armin Tampubolon, explained that tin mining waste still contains around 60–80 percent silica sand and up to 20 percent kaolin. He stated that both of these contents have great potential for processing into industrial materials.

According to him, the waste undergoes a series of separation processes, sieving, washing, drying, and purification using magnetic separation and precipitation methods. This process produces silica with a purity of 87.09–95.36 percent and kaolin with a purity of 89.15 percent, which is then mixed with feldspar and fired at 1,200 degrees Celsius to produce silicate ceramics that meet industry standards.

The resulting ceramic products have low shrinkage and adequate water absorption, making them suitable for use in various sectors. This material has potential uses for high-quality ceramics, refractory materials, acid-resistant tiles, construction, metal casting, the glass industry, and even abrasive materials.

In addition to its economic value, this technology also offers environmental benefits by reducing the accumulation of waste from mining processing. The production process uses oxalic acid as a weak acid, making the process safer, more efficient, and relatively low-cost.

Armin stated that the silica and kaolin processed from this mining waste even have export market opportunities to Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam. He emphasized that utilizing mining waste is no longer just an option but a necessity, considering that the decline in tin ore content requires optimal utilization of all mining resources for greater economic value and reduced environmental impact.