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The competition, organized by the Indonesian Metallurgical Professionals Association, Indonesian Engineers Association, and Metallurgical Engineering Student Association (IMMG) ITB, carried the theme “Advancing Sustainable Metallurgy Towards Circularity and Carbon Neutrality.”

In this competition, their paper titled “Dual Valorization of Zinc Waste in Central Kalimantan’s Tailings through Enhanced Phytomining: Integrating Inoculant-assisted Metal Uptake and Hyperaccumulators’ Biomass Utilization into Bioethanol toward Circular Metallurgy” proposed a sustainable approach to managing mining waste.

The research focuses on utilizing Panicum maximum plants for the remediation of zinc (Zn) waste from mining tailings in Central Kalimantan. The harvested biomass is processed into bioethanol, while the remaining solid residues undergo acid leaching to extract residual metals. This approach not only improves soil quality but also generates new economic value from mining waste.

“Phytomining combines two different scientific fields and holds great potential to address environmental issues caused by metallurgical waste. Through this work, we aim to open up further research opportunities so that this concept can be practically implemented in Indonesia,” said Ravi.

Unlike most competitions that feature 10–15 minute Q&A sessions, IPMC challenges participants with a 45-minute session.

“It was an intense but awesome experience! It felt like defending a thesis, we were questioned from start to finish. But it was such a valuable learning experience,” shared Rigel.

Despite the challenge, Team Phytomaxxing remained composed and even shared some advice for future participants.

“The key is to understand the competition — learn about the judges, their backgrounds, and tailor your presentation and responses accordingly. Once you know your ‘battlefield,’ you’ll be more mentally prepared. Plus, if each member masters a different but complementary field, it’ll be much easier to handle any competition,” explained Hanif.

During the paper preparation process, the team also faced several time and technical challenges.

“We were split between Ganesha and Jatinangor campuses with packed schedules, so communication was crucial. On top of that, we faced technical problems, from broken laptops and phones to nearly losing our coding data. But we managed to overcome everything with patience and teamwork,” Hanif added.

Through their innovation, Team Phytomaxxing hopes to promote the concept of circular metallurgy in Indonesia, where mining waste is not only treated but also repurposed to support sustainable energy and the green industry of the future.