Purification of Used Cooking Oil by Alkali Neutralization and Bleaching of Bayah Natural Zeolite

Cooking oil that is used repeatedly at high temperatures will reduce the quality of cooking oil. This will trigger the hydrolysis and oxidation processes that will change the characteristics of the oil, such as an increase in free fatty acid levels and peroxide numbers. Purification of used cooking oil can be carried out physically and chemically. The physical purification of oil is carried out by using adsorbents, while chemically purification process is carried out with an alkaline solution. Physically, natural materials such as zeolite can be used, where zeolite is a natural rock or mineral which chemically has a large surface area to be used in the adsorption process. Chemically with alkaline solution you can use sodium hydroxide (NaOH). In this study, used cooking oil is purified by three stages of the process, namely despicing, neutralization and bleaching to comply with the SNI quality standards. The purpose of this study was to determine the optimum operating conditions for the purification of used cooking oil in accordance with the quality standards for cooking oil. based on the results obtained by adding a NaOH concentration of 19% in the neutralization process and a zeolite concentration of 90% can reduce the acid number value of 2.4 mg NaOH/gr, the peroxide number is 7 mekO2/kg, the color degradation of used cooking oil is 51.83%.

Production of Natural Colorant by Monascus Purpureus FNCC 6008 using Rice and Cassava as Carbon Substrates

Consumer recognition of the adverse effects of synthetic colorant has increased awareness in utilizing natural colorants as an alternative. One of them is a microbial colorant and it is already studied for its safety and functional properties in the human body, i.e. hypercholesterolemia, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anticancer. The functional properties of microbial colorant have driven many kinds of research about natural colorant produced by the microorganism. Monascus pigment is one of the popular red pigment synthesized by mold Monascus purpureus. This research was conducted to investigate the effects of particle size and incubation temperature on color value and water solubility of the natural colorant produced by M. purpureus FNCC 6008 using rice and cassava as carbon substrates. Every experiment was conducted in an erlenmeyer flask filled by 15 g of substrates, sterilized and incubated in an incubator chamber. Three particle sizes of 8, 10, and 16 mesh were employed on the incubation temperatures of 30, 32, and 34 oC for 14 days. Two parameters were measured from the sample to evaluate the results of the fermentation process, i.e. color intensity and water solubility of product. The highest color intensity of 59.6 CVU/gds was obtained from the rice substrate at the particle size of 10 mesh and incubation temperature of 32 oC. That particular fermentation condition resulted in a product with 71.4% product solubility.

Effect of Chitosan, Clay, and CMC on Physicochemical Properties of Bioplastic from Banana Corm with Glycerol.

Bioplactic from banana corm and glycerol has been studied in this research. In addition, the physical chemical properties of it has been improved by adding chitosan, clay and CMC as filler and glycerol as plasticizer. Plastic that produced form organic material such as starch usually has poor properties in physical and mechanical. Composition variation of chitosan, clay and CMC as filler then combined by variation of glycerol as plasticizer have produced significant improve of the bioplastic physical properties. Properties of the bioplastic that studied in this research was focused to biodegradation, elongation, and tensile strength. The addition of fillers and plasticizers is carried out to produce a better bioplastics. This study used 3 variations of the filler composition : 4, 5, and 6 grams and 2 variations of the plasticizer composition: 1 ml and 2 ml. The bioplastics that produced were tested for tensile strength, elongation, and biodegradation of the soil for 7 days. The best tensile strength results is 8.43 MPa for bioplastic that using CMC fillers. On the other side, the best elongation percentage is 9.87% for bioplastic which using CMC fillers. The bioplastic that added Clay as filler can be degraded up to 100% in 7 days.

Vinasse-Based Slow-Release Organo-Mineral Fertilizer with Chitosan-Bentonite Matrix

Controlling the release rate of the nitrogen-phosphorus-potassium (NPK) for the soil fertilized can enhance the fertilizer efficiency and reduce the drawback for the environmental. In this work, a novel slow-release organo-mineral fertilizer was produced from the vinasse, which was blended with the NPK and the chitosan-bentonite matrix. The NPK used as additional nutrients source and the chitosan-bentonite matrix was performed as a barrier to prevent the nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium from a rapid dissolving. The NPK release rate was measured and analyzed after 3, 6, 9, and 12 days using the incubation method and leaching test. The most efficient release rate was obtained when a dry vinasse mixed with 9% NPK and 5% chitosan-bentonite matrix with the ratio of 8:2. The vinasse-based slow-release of organo-mineral fertilizer (SR-OMF) was compared to the vinasse organo-mineral fertilizer (OMF). The result indicated that the NPK release rate in the vinasse-based SR-OMF was lower compared to that in the vinasse OMF.

Effect of Ultrasonic Assisted on The Degree of Deacetylation of Chitosan Extracted from Portunus Pelagicus

The technology for extracting chitin from shell and other materials needs to be continuously improved, including its conversion to chitosan. Chitosan is a biocompatible polymer, biodegradable, non-toxic, water-soluble at pH below 6.5, and it has protonated amino groups. The benefits of chitosan in industry, food and medicine make it necessary to fully study an efficient chitosan synthesis method and the results can be applied on an industrial scale. This study examined the effect of ultrasonic-assisted in increasing the degree of deacetylation of chitosan produced from Portunus pelagicus shell waste. The production process of chitosan goes through the stages of deproteination, demineralization and deacetylation. All these steps are ultrasound assisted processes with a frequency of 40 kHz through a digital ultrasonic cleaner. Ultrasonic-assisted chitin and chitosan were examined using FTIR spectrometry. The results showed that the ultrasonic method was able to increase the deacetylation degree of chitin with a value of 68.45±0.11% compared to 62.52±0.08% without ultrasonic. Application of ultrasonic assisted deacetylation gave a deacetylation degree of 85.35 ± 0.20%, higher than without ultrasonic 80.24 ± 0.19%. Physically, ultrasonic-assisted chitosan is smoother and brighter in color. The ultrasonic-assisted chitosan manufacturing method could increase the deacetylation degree and produce high grade chitosan.

Potential of Energy Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) to Become Refuse Derived Fuel (RDF) in Bali Province, Indonesia

The generation of municipal solid waste (MSW) in Bali has various environmental impacts. One of the updates on sustainable waste processing is the RDF treatment plant processing. Before carrying out the processing, MSW characterization is needed because each region has a diverse composition. The processing of MSW into RDF provides benefits for achieving MSW reduction targets, renewable energy use, and the reduction of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. For this reason, this study was conducted to determine the potential of MSW in Bali as an alternative to renewable fuel and its potential to reduce GHG. MSW's potential calorific value as a raw material for RDF in Bali can reach 9.58 - 17.71 MJ/kg. The implementation of processing waste into RDF in pellets has shown a calorific value of ± 3904 - 4945 kkcal/kg. Implementing MSW processing into RDF in Bali can reduce GHG by 178 - 330 times compared to open dumping.

Preparation of Dye-Sensitized Solar Cell (DSSC) Using TiO2 and Mahkota Dewa Fruit (Phaleria Macrocarpa (Scheff) Boerl.) Extract

A dye sensitized solar cell (DSSC) is a low-cost solar cell with attractive features. DSCC contains of photoelectrode, dye, electrolyte, and counter electrode with photoelectrochemical system. The aim of this research is to determine the percent efficiency produced by DSSC from the Mahkota Dewa extract. This was carried out in various stages, namely sample preparation and extraction, DSSC assembly, TiO2 characterization using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), and testing its current and voltage. The results showed that the maximum wavelength of the Mahkota Dewa extract dye test using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer was 554 nm with an absorbance of 0.163, which was believed to be the wavelength of flavonoid and anthocyanin compounds. Based on the characterization results, surface morphology was spherical and agglomerated. However, after being soaked in the dye, the surface morphology of the TiO2 layer did not appear spherical on the surface that was expected to have been covered by the dye. The measurement using sunlight sources showed that the maximum current and voltage of DSSC with a concentration of 30% w/v was 21.8x10-4A and 58.86 V with an efficiency of 22.43x10-3 %. In addition, there was a 0.482% decrease in DSSC efficiency based on the storage time which lasted for a period of 6 days.

Kinetics of Sulfide Removal in Biofilter Employing Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacteria on Salak Fruit Seeds

Sulfur-oxidizing bacterias were isolated then grown on salak fruit seeds forming bio-film. Their performances in sulfide removal were experimentally observed. The salak fruit seeds were then used as packing material in a cylinder. Liquid containing 83 ppm of sodium sulfide was flown through the bed. Then the sulfide concentrations in the outlet at various times were analyzed. A set of simple kinetics model for the rate of the sulfide removal and the bacterial growth was proposed. The axial sulfide concentration gradient in the flowing liquid are assumed to be quasi-steady-state. Mean while the bio-film grows on the surface of the seeds and the sulfide oxidation takes place in the bio-film. Since the bio-film is very thin, the sulfide concentration in the bio-film is assumed to be uniform. The simultaneous ordinary differential equations obtained were then solved numerically using Runge-Kutta method. The accuracy of the model proposed was tested by comparing the calculation results using the model with the experimental data obtained. It turned out that the model proposed can be applied to quantitatively describe the removal of sulfide in liquid using bio-filter in packed bed. The values of the parameters were also obtained by curve-fitting.

Surface Modification With Gelatin For Polyurethane Vascular Grafts: A Review

The means for developing synthetic vascular grafts to replace blood vessels is increasing extensively because of the limited supply of autologous vessels. Synthetic polymers as the alternatives still suffer from restenosis and thrombus formation. Natural polymers, on the other hand, are commonly biocompatible and biodegradable, compliment the synthetic ones. Blending, grafting and coating of natural polymers have been proposed to improve surface properties of synthetic polymers. Gelatin is a promising candidate to help improving synthetic vascular grafts surface owing to its ability to promote cell adhesion without promoting platelet aggregation at its surface. In this review, several techniques to incorporate gelatin onto synthetic polymers, mainly polyurethane, for vascular grafts application are summarized, together with the recent updates and potential development in the future.

Application of Bacterial Nano Cellulose as a Reinforcing Material in The Liner Test Paper

This research is about the application of Bacterial nano cellulose (BNC) as a reinforcing material in the making of liner test paper. BNC was obtained from the fermentation of banana peel extract using Gluconacetobacter xylinum bacteria obtained from the making starter of nata de coco. The reason for using banana peel waste is because it’s available in large number all across Indonesia. BNC is mixed with secondary fiber as a raw material for making liner test paper. From the experimental handsheets results, strength properties and absorption properties were then tested. Variations in the composition of the use of BNC are 0% (blank), 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%, 25%, 30% of the handsheet dry weight. The BNC is also applicated on surface sizing as a substitute for the surface sizing agent. The results of this study indicate that BNC can be used as an alternative raw material on wet end and on surface sizing, because both applications can increase the strength properties of liner test paper, and can reduce the use of chemical additive. The highest increase in strength properties of liner test paper was obtained at the composition of nano cellulose 30% and using surface sizing. Ring crush index is 14.02 Nm / g, concora index is 12.73 Nm / g, bursting index is 3.78 KPa.m² / g, ply bonding is 388.57 J / m². The absorption properties of paper increases but it has a low prosity. The highest cobb size results are obtained at 30% BNC composition, which is 45.30 g / m2 without using surface sizing and 41.83 g / m² using surface sizing. The highest porosity value is obtained at 30% BNC composition, which is 158 s / 100cc using surface sizing. This research is expected to be a reference for further research in the field of BNC, as the alternative raw materials besides wood in paper making.