On Saturday, November 2, 2024, Zulfiandi Zulhan, a prominent academic in the field of metallurgy, gained widespread attention on social media after sharing a groundbreaking video demonstrating a hydrogen plasma reactor in action. The video, posted on Instagram by @santosoim, features Zulfiandi showcasing how the reactor transforms ore into metal in under two minutes.

The video, which has garnered over 226,000 likes as of November 6, highlights Zulfiandi's impressive feat: turning a brown-colored ore, which resembles soil, into metal within a short span. In the video, Zulfiandi explains the process, stating, "This is not magic, this is how soil turns into iron and nickel in just two minutes." He then proceeds to place the ore into the plasma hydrogen reactor, a tube-shaped device designed to reduce the ore into metal quickly.

As the reactor is activated, it emits a glowing light while Zulfiandi starts a stopwatch to track the time. At 1 minute and 45 seconds, the device is turned off, revealing that the once-earthy ore has been transformed into metal, to the applause of Zulfiandi's students. This display of technological prowess has left many in awe, with social media users praising the revolutionary method.

Zulfiandi Zulhan, a Professor and Senior Researcher at the Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), is a renowned figure in the field of metallurgy. Born on January 28, 1973, in Aceh, Indonesia, Zulfiandi pursued his education at ITB before furthering his studies in Germany. His extensive academic and research career has seen him develop innovative methods in metallurgy, with a focus on environmentally friendly and sustainable metal production.

The hydrogen plasma reactor is the result of Zulfiandi’s research on producing metals without the harmful carbon emissions associated with traditional methods. In a recent scientific speech titled "Hydrogen Plasma Reactor for Environmentally Friendly and Sustainable Metal Production," he explained that the process uses hydrogen as a reducing agent to convert ores like limonite and saprolite into metals, including feronickel, in a matter of minutes.

This new approach to metal production, which significantly reduces CO2 emissions, aligns with Zulfiandi’s vision for a greener future in metallurgy. His experiments, which began in laboratory conditions, show great promise for scaling up to industrial levels. In particular, his recent work has focused on creating stainless steel by mixing nickel and chromite ores, a process that typically takes much longer in traditional factories.

Zulfiandi's achievements have positioned him as a key figure in sustainable technology development, and his viral video further solidifies his reputation as a leading innovator in the field of metallurgy.

About Zulfiandi Zulhan:

Prof. Dr. Ing. Zulfiandi Zulhan is a distinguished academic with a rich educational background. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Mining Engineering with a Metallurgical option from ITB, a Master's degree in Mining Engineering from ITB, and a Doctorate in Metallurgy from RWTH Aachen University in Germany. Zulfiandi has been a lecturer at ITB since 1998 and is currently a Senior Professor at the university. His research includes various groundbreaking studies on metal production and environmental sustainability.