InfoSAWIT, JAKARTA - Evana Yuanita, a student of doctoral program in Metallurgy and Materials Department, Faculty of Engineering, University of Indonesia is still researching something interesting about the potential of palm oil empty bunch fiber.
The research is part of her dissertation with the title "Potensi Serat Tandan Kosong Kelapa Sawit untuk Nucleating Agent Polipropilena Rigid Melalui Metode Glow Discharge Elektrolisis Plasma". It was presented in the Doctor Promotion Open Session, Monday 12 February 2024 at the K301 Auditorium, Faculty of Engineering University of Indonesia.
Evana mentioned that plastic has become the significant product in the last decade because it is cheap but strong and light. “One kind of plastic which is very important is polypropylene (PP) which is the synthesis polymer made of crude oil fractionation process,” she said, as InfoSAWIT quoted from the official page of University of Indonesia, Sunday, 25/2/2024).
Taking advantages on natural fiber as the material for polymer adaptive would have more superiorities than available products in many markets. One sample is that palm oil empty bunch fiber which is the waste from fresh fruit bunch to be crude palm oil. About 45% of the liquid waste is empty bunches. Evana told that empty bunches are having very big potential in Indonesia because of palm oil plantations development in Indonesia.
Evana continued she chose empty bunches as the research is because it is economical in price, delivering positive for the environment and abundant stock in this country.
“The main challenge in using empty bunch fiber as adaptive polymer is its development to be adaptive that could be massively produced by plastic industries,” Evana said.
Dean of Faculty of Engineering, University of Indonesia, Prof. Heri Hermansyah said that polymer adaptive material, particularly Nucleating Agent (NA) is produced less in Indonesia. that is why developing the material by taking advantage on natural fiber, for instance, empty bunches, would be the focus for further research in plastic industries in Indonesia. (T2)
