InfoSAWIT, YOGYAKARTA — Sustainable innovation has once again emerged from Indonesia's academic world. Dr. Heri Septya Kusuma, S.Si., M.T., a lecturer in the Chemical Engineering Study Program at UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta, along with his team, has successfully designed an innovative solution to address environmental pollution by utilizing palm oil waste as an adsorbent for heavy metal pollutants.
This innovation has received international recognition through publication in the reputable journal Desalination and Water Treatment (Elsevier, indexed by Scopus). The article titled "Theoretical perspectives and recent advances in palm-based adsorbents for sustainable heavy metal removal from aqueous systems" is a comprehensive review of the development of adsorption technology using palm oil biomass.
“This article not only presents the latest findings but also serves as a roadmap for the development of more effective and sustainable water treatment technology,” said Dr. Heri as quoted from the official UPN Veteran Yogyakarta website on Friday (August 1, 2025).
According to him, utilizing palm oil waste as a heavy metal adsorbent provides dual benefits: reducing palm oil industry waste that often poses environmental issues while also providing a green alternative for cleaning contaminated water.
“Palm oil waste is a significant challenge in Indonesia. However, we see great potential behind it. By making it an adsorbent for pollutants, we are realizing the principles of a circular economy—turning waste into a new resource,” explained Dr. Heri.
Furthermore, he emphasized the importance of cross-institutional and international collaboration in this research. “Global cooperation is key to addressing increasingly complex environmental challenges. We hope this research can trigger broader synergies at the international level,” he added.
He also appreciates the involvement of students in this project. “We want to show that research is not just for lecturers. Students have a significant role, and this is their opportunity to make a real contribution to science and society,” he said.
Dr. Heri concluded with high hopes that the results of this research do not stop in the laboratory but can be widely applied by industries and communities. “We envision this palm waste-based adsorbent technology becoming part of the global solution towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly in providing clean water, responsible production, and climate change mitigation,” he concluded.
With a commitment to green innovation and a tangible contribution to the environment, UPN "Veteran" Yogyakarta reaffirms its role as an important actor in efforts to create a cleaner and more sustainable future. (T2)
