CHEMICA: Jurnal Teknik Kimia

Converting Biomass into Biofuel using Production Techniques: A Review

Semaa Khaleel — Wed, 12 Feb 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Biomass is a widely popular form of renewables as an alternative to fossil fuels, the dwindling oil resources and the escalation of environmental issues related to climate change. Biofuel has gained great importance as a source of bioenergy due to its two characteristics: sustainability and renewal. The biomass abundantly available in nature can be converted into various types of biofuel. This review provides a summary of biomass and its sources, as well as types of biofuels, their generations and technologies for producing biomass (Thermochemical, Biochemical, Biological, Physical, Ultrasonic, Microwave, Nanotechnology) discussing competitive benefits, disadvantages of these technologies and the conversion of biomass and their potential environmental impacts, in addition to clarifying biofuel products, which included production of bioethanol, biomethanol they can be used fuel for internal combustion vehicles, transportation and industry for their role in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and producing biodiesel, which is considered a good alternative to petroleum diesel. Biogas is not used as fuel unless modified, and future research can be directed towards marketing sustainable biofuel.

Optimization of Potassium Silicate Fertilizer Production from Fly Ash: Effect of KOH Concentration and Extraction Time

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

Fly ash, a byproduct of coal combustion in power plants, contains a high concentration of silica, making it a valuable and underutilized raw material for synthesizing potassium silicate fertilizer. Potassium silicate is known for its ability to enhance plant resistance to abiotic stresses such as drought and salinity, thereby improving overall crop health, productivity, and yield. This study aims to determine the optimal synthesis conditions of potassium silicate from fly ash by varying potassium hydroxide (KOH) concentrations and extraction times. The experimental design involves extracting silica using five different KOH concentrations (7, 9, 11, 13, and 15 N) and five time intervals (60, 90, 120, 150, and 180 minutes). Results indicate that increasing KOH concentration leads to higher silica extraction efficiency; however, it concurrently decreases potassium content in the final product. This is attributed to increased solubility and subsequent loss of potassium during extraction. Among the tested conditions, the optimum synthesis was achieved using 15 N KOH for 120 minutes, producing a potassium silicate compound with 57.5% silica and 39.4% potassium, as confirmed through compositional analysis. These findings highlight the potential of converting fly ash into a high-value agricultural input, supporting waste valorization and sustainable fertilizer development. Despite these promising results, further research is recommended to evaluate field application efficacy, environmental impact, and economic feasibility in comparison with conventional commercial fertilizers.

The Effect of Distillation on Several Types of River Water On Clean Water and Drinking Water Quality Standards

Mon, 21 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000

This research was conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of a distillation device in producing clean water from five major rivers in Yogyakarta, namely the Progo, Oyo, Opak, Gajah Wong, and Code Rivers. The distillation process utilizes an organic waste combustion system as a heat source to generate water vapor from river water, which is then condensed into liquid form. This method not only aims to produce clean water but also to promote sustainable practices by utilizing readily available organic waste as fuel. The study analyzed the resulting distilled water based on physicochemical and microbiological parameters in accordance with the clean water quality standards set by the Indonesian Ministry of Health. Parameters such as pH, turbidity, mineral content, total dissolved solids (TDS), and microbial contamination were measured. The results indicated that the distillation device was capable of producing water that met several clean water criteria, though variations in distillation efficiency were observed across river sources. These inconsistencies were mainly attributed to factors such as leakage in the device, fluctuations in combustion temperature, and differences in the initial water quality of each river. Furthermore, the distillation process significantly altered certain chemical characteristics, including a reduction in mineral content and shifts in pH values. In conclusion, while the distillation method shows potential as a viable alternative for clean water production, especially in rural or resource-limited areas, further improvements in system stability and design optimization are needed to enhance its consistency and overall effectiveness.

The Effect of Concentration Castor Seed Oil and Banana Peel Extract on The Production of Antiseptic Liquid Soap

Ahmad M Fuadi, Amanda Yasmin Prayendra — Mon, 21 Apr 2025 00:00:00 +0000