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LaNi5 is widely used in various applications. Many methods to produce LaNi5 particles have been reported but information for the large-scale production, so far, is less available. This study aimed to evaluate the project for the production of LaNi5 particles using combustion-reduction (CR) and co-precipitation-reduction (CPR) methods based on engineering and economic perspective. Engineering evaluation was conducted by evaluating the CR and CPR processes from stoichiometry. For the economic evaluation, several economic parameters were calculated in the ideal condition including gross profit margin (GPM), payback period (PBP), break-even point (BEP), cumulative net present value (CNPV), profitability index (PI), internal rate return (IRR), and return on investment (ROI). For the worst cases in the project, it was done by calculating both the internal problems (i.e., raw materials, sales, utility, labor, employee, fixed cost, variable cost, and production capacity) and the external issues (i.e., taxes and subsidiaries). The engineering analysis provided the information that CR and CPR projects are prospective for being able to be done using commercial apparatuses. The economic analysis from GPM, PBP, BEP, CNPV, and PI showed the positive results, while IRR and ROI showed the negative ones, indicating that the projects are acceptable for large-scale production, but it seems to be less attractive for industrial investors. The analysis also confirmed that the CR process was more prospective than the CPR process. This work has demonstrated the important of the projects for further developments.

Composite anodes made of NiO and SDC-(Li/Na)2CO3 were investigated in relation to their structure, morphology, and porosity. As a first step, the anode powder was prepared by mixing the NiO with SDC-(Li/Na)2CO3 via solid state reaction in weight percentage of 60 : 40 wt% and in various compositions of carbonates (20 and 30wt%), namely NiO-SDC8020 and NiO-SDC7030, respectively. The powder mixtures were then calcined at 680oC. The resultant powder was fine with surface area of about 13.10-13.70 m2/g and an average particle size of 0.32-0.37µm. The powders consist of two phases i.e. the cubic NiO and face-centered cubic structure SDC-(Li/Na)2CO3 as confirmed with x-ray diffraction. The microstructures were observed under scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The anode pellets were later compacted at different pressures (27, 32 and 37 MPa) and sintered at 600oC. The optimum porosity (20.99-24.78%) was achieved for samples of NiO-SDC8020 and NiO-SDC7030 sintered at 600oC and cold pressed at 32 and 37 MPa.

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