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This study carried out the catalyst synthesis of calcium oxide (CaO) from chicken eggshells supported on activated carbon (C) and activated by KOH solution (CaO/C/KOH). The effects of variation of KOH concentration and the CaO:C mass ratio to catalyst performance were also investigated. The catalyst was used in the biodiesel production from off-grade palm oil. The catalyst with the highest catalytic activity was obtained at the CaO:C mass ratio of 12:6 and the KOH concentration of 25%. The transesterification that was performed under the conditions of the oil: methanol molar ratio of 1:10, the catalyst concentration of 1% -b oil, the reaction temperature of 65 °C, and reaction time of 3 hours produced a biodiesel yield of 85.74%. The catalyst characterization by using XRD, Hammet indicator, and Brunauer-Emmet-Teller (BET) showed the product was in the crystalline phase of CaO, K2CO3, K2O Ca(OH)2, and CaCO3, the base strength of H_> 12.2, and the specific surface area of 17.890 m2/g, respectively. The results showed that the KOH concentration in the catalyst activation process was directly proportional to the biodiesel yield. Several methyl esters such as methyl palmitate and methyl oleate were found in biodiesel through Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS) analysis.

Kabupaten Kuantan Singingi merupakan daerah produsen komoditi karet alam terbesar di Provinsi Riau. Sejumlah besar gabungan kelompok tani (GAPOKTAN) karet di beberapa desa dan didukung oleh pemerintah daerah sudah membentuk Asosiasi Petani Karet Kuantan Singingi (APKARKUSI), untuk melakukan pengendalian kualitas dan pelelangan bahan olah karet (bokar). Asosiasi ini juga berencana akan mengembangkan industri hilir berbahan baku utama bokar. Tujuan kegiatan ini adalah untuk melakukan persiapan awal terkait dengan rencana pengembangan produk hilir karet tersebut. Kegiatan tahap awal ini meliputi penentuan kualitas bokar dari petani yang berafiliasi dengan APKARKUSI, jenis produk hilir karet tahap awal dan perencanaan tata letak mesin dan sarana produksinya, dan spesifikasi yang diinginkan pasar dari produk sandal karet sebagai salah satu jenis produk hilir karet yang akan dikembangkan. Kualitas bokar yang dikelola oleh APKARKUSI relatif sangat baik (yaitu dengan kadar karet kering berkisar 60-65 %). Jenis produk hilir karet yang siap diproduksi adalah brown crepe rubber, dimana kinerja proses produksinya masih perlu dioptimalkan. Spesifikasi produk sandal karet yang akan diproduksi bersifat dinamis, yaitu dengan mempertimbangkan faktor model, kualitas, kenyamanan dan harga. Untuk proses produksinya, perlu merujuk kepada tata letak mesin dan sarana produksi yang dapat menhasilkan kinerja yang efektif dan efisien.

Vast applications of cellulases and xylanases in many fields over the last few decades and high production cost demand extensive research in improving its quality and finding low cost substrates. These includes pulp and paper, food and feed, brewing, agriculture and biofuel industries. The main objective of this study was to investigate the use of pineapple crown leaves waste as the substrate to produce cellulases and xylanases in solid-state cultures (SSF) of Eupenicillium javanicum InaCC F154. Three SSF temperatures (25°C, 30°C and 35°C) and pH (4.0, 6.0 and 8.0) were tested for 96 h in solid media containing defatted soybean, (NH4)2SO4, NaNO3, CaCl2, and small amount of H2O. Then, its comparison with submerged fermentation (SmF) was also carried out. The SSF results showed that increasing temperature from 25°C to 35°C, increased the production of these enzymes. The pH also affected its activities, except at pH 4.0. The optimum pH and temperature for cellulase and xylanase production were found to be 6.0 and 35°C, respectively. The maximum cellulase obtained was 0.261 U/mL while much higher was obtained for xylanase with activity of 1.683 U/mL. SSF was better than SmF for xylanases (0.501 U/mL vs. 1.683 U/mL). The outcome of this study exhibits the potential of pineapple crown leaves as the substrate for xylanase production from E. javanicum by solid-state fermentation.

Performance of anaerobic hybrid bunch-frond palm mediated bioreactor in COD elimination The high contents of Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) in palm oil mill wastewater is able to cause the obstructed connection between air and a receiver of water body so that can make the lessening oxygen solubility in the receiver of water body. Hence, it is important to do innovation to get a good technology process of wastewater in order that the contents of COD become low. One of the wastewater processes can be done by using hybrid anaerobic bioreactor in eliminating COD that exists in palm oil mill wastewater. This research uses two units of hybrid anaerobic bioreactor i.e. hybrid anaerobic bioreactor mediated immobilization cell of empty stem palm and hybrid anaerobic bioreactor mediated immobilization cell of in 2.5 m3 of work volume. The process is done by using variation of imposition organic rate i.e. 10, 12.5, 14.28, 16.6, 20, 25, 33.3, and 50 kg COD/m3-day. The result of research showed that the highest eliminating COD is 82.67% in 14.28 kg COD/m3-day in bioreactor filled with empty palm fruit bunch and 84% for imposition organic rate 16.6 kg COD/m3-day in bioreactor filled with palm midrib. Therefore, both hybrid anaerobic bioreactors can be used for processing oil palm mill wastewater in high load of COD. Keywords: hybrid bioreactor, COD, wastewater, palm midrib, empty stem palmAbstrakKandungan Chemical Oxygen Demand (COD) yang tinggi dalam limbah cair pabrik minyak sawit dapat menyebabkan terhambatnya kontak antara udara dengan badan air penerima sehingga mengakibatkan berkurangnya kelarutan oksigen dalam badan air penerima tersebut. Oleh karena itu, penting dilakukan terobosan baru untuk mendapatkan teknologi pengolahan limbah cair yang handal agar kandungan COD menjadi rendah. Salah satu teknologi pengolahan limbah cair tersebut adalah bioreaktor hibrid anaerob. Penelitian ini bertujuan mengkaji kinerja beberapa jenis bioreaktor hibrid anaerob dalam penyisihan COD dalam limbah cair pabrik minyak sawit. Pada penelitian ini digunakan dua unit bioreaktor yakni bioreaktor hibrid anaerob dengan media imobilisasi sel tandan kosong sawit dan bioreaktor hibrid anaerob dengan media imobilisasi sel pelepah sawit dengan volume kerja 2,5 m3. Proses pengolahan dilakukan dengan variasi laju pembebanan zat organik, yaitu10; 12,5; 14,28; 16,6; 20; 25; 33,3; 50 kg COD/m3hari. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa penyisihan COD yang tertinggi dicapai sebesar 82,67% dengan laju pembebanan organik 14,28 kg COD/m3hari pada bioreaktor bermedia tandan kosong sawit dan 84% untuk laju pembebanan organik 16,6 kg COD/ m3hari pada bioreaktor bermedia pelepah sawit. Dengan demikian, kedua bioreaktor hibrid anaerob ini dapat digunakan untuk mengolah limbah cair industri minyak sawit dengan beban COD tinggi.Kata kunci: bioreaktor hibrid, COD, limbah cair, pelepah sawit, tandan kosong sawit

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Bioplastic or biodegradable plastic is one of alternative replacement to conventional plastic that has the potential to harmful to the environment. One of the raw material that has the potential to be made into bioplastic is sago starch because it has ability to degraded. The general purpose of this research is to determine the characteristics of sago-based bioplastic by modified the citric acid, microcrystalline cellulose filler, plasticizer sorbitol and glycerol. The synthesis method is casting of starch, water, filler Micro Cristalline Cellulose (MCC) with varying plasticizer sorbitol and glycerol with composition of filler is (15-25 % w/w), composition of plasticizer (25– 35 % w/w), and composition citric acid (3-9 % w/w). The results showed that the treatment with the addition of MCC fillers, plasticizers, and citric acid are contributed to the mechanical properties produced. In the best process conditions (20% w/w MCC filler, plasticizer sorbitol 30% w/w with citric acid 0.95% w/w) give result Tensile strength 15.84 MPa, Elongation 9.32%, Young's Modulus 171.2 MPa, Biodegradation 51.65%, and wavelength absorption 1722.51 cm-1

Biosurfactants are surfactants that are synthesized by microorganisms using organic materials and have biodegradable properties, making them environmentally friendly. One of the applications of biosurfactants in the recovery of petroleum. This study aims to determine the type of biosurfactant produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacteria using crude palm oil as the main carbon source, to determine the effect of variations in pH and CPO concentration on surface tension reduction and emulsification, and compare the best biosurfactant with surfactant synthesis. The production of biosurfactants has  3 stages, namely the bacterial preparation, the biosurfactant production, and the analysis in the form of surface tension, emulsification, crude oil removal, and FTIR. The best biosurfactant was obtained at pH 7 and a carbon source concentration of 3% v/v with surface tension and emulsification values ​​of 42.49 mN/m and 58%, respectively. The pH value and CPO concentration can affect the growth in the biosurfactant production process, thus also affecting the surface tension and emulsification values. The biosurfactants obtained were rhamnolipid biosurfactants. The biosurfactants produced in this study have lower crude oil recovery capabilities than synthetic surfactants with crude oil removal values ​​of 57.78% and 79.34%, respectively.