Environmental Engineering
T. Handayani; I.N. Djarot; N. Widyastuti; F.D. Arianti; A. Rifai; A.I. Sitomurni; M.M.A. Nur; R.N. Dewi; N. Nuha; J. Haryanti; D. Pinardi; Y. Suryana; A. Aziz; E. Syamsudin; T. Rochmadi; P.A. Lomak; A. Hadi; M.D. Pertiwi; E. Yuniastuti; N.A. Putri
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: During this energy transition, research is being done to develop sustainable ways to support the shift to a decarbonized energy and production system. These ways include using renewable energy sources to promote circularity in products, green technologies, and safer procedures. ...
Read More
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: During this energy transition, research is being done to develop sustainable ways to support the shift to a decarbonized energy and production system. These ways include using renewable energy sources to promote circularity in products, green technologies, and safer procedures. Anaerobic digestion of palm oil mill effluent is a beneficial process for generating biogas, while the waste can also be utilized as fertilizer. The biogas can be further refined into biomethane, a valuable resource commonly used in transportation and power generation. The objective of this study is to examine the enhancement of biogas from Palm oil mill effluent and the elimination of sludge nutrients by utilizing microalgae Chlorella vulgaris. The microalgae will be cultivated in a modified photobioreactor to enhance the capture of carbon dioxide.METHODS: The study utilized anaerobic batch reactor digesters. A modified photobioreactor, consisting of two columns separated by a membrane, was developed for the technological advancement of biogas upgrading, specifically for carbon dioxide capture and biogas upgrading. A technological gap in biogas upgrade technology innovation is filled by the improved photobioreactor. To optimize the bio-fixation of carbon dioxide from flue gas, it is essential to carefully select a suitable strain of microalgae that possesses both a strong ability to absorb carbon dioxide and a high tolerance to varying concentrations of this gas. By choosing the right strain, the efficiency of carbon dioxide removal can be significantly enhanced. Since Chlorella vulgaris microalgae have demonstrated this potential, they were chosen for this investigation. Microalgae also play a role in removing nutrients contained in the sludge. FINDINGS: Numerous chemical and biological methods have been used to upgrade biogas. Results of biological upgrading of biogas from palm oil mill effluent have been reported, with carbon dioxide removal reaching 89 percent until the methane concentration of the biogas is upgraded to 84 percent. The highest biomass of 1,835 grams per liter was achieved by culturing the microalgae Chlorella vulgaris in laboratory-scale photobioreactors. In this study, the application of 15 percent volume per volume biogas with an optical density of 0.4 was found to be optimal for the growth of the microalgae. The cultivation period lasted for 14 days. The peak biomass production was observed due to the achievement of a remarkable 98 volume per volume efficiency in carbon dioxide removal, which subsequently led to a significant rise in methane content, reaching 60 percent. The enhanced biogas achieved a peak methane content of 98 percent, indicating a significant improvement in quality.CONCLUSION: The findings of this study, conducted using a modified photobioreactor, indicate that Chlorella vulgaris demonstrated high efficacy in the removal of carbon dioxide, with a rate of up to 90 percent. Additionally, it exhibited remarkable performance in upgrading biogas derived from palm oil mill effluent, achieving a conversion rate of up to 98 percent. The optical density of microalgae at 0.4 played a crucial role in these processes. Furthermore, Chlorella vulgaris showcased its ability to effectively eliminate nutrient nitrogen, reaching a removal rate of 90 percent at an optical density of 0.2. Moreover, it demonstrated a phosphate removal rate of 80 percent at an optical density of 0.4.
Environmental Management
. Komalawati; S. Hidayat; R.H. Praptana; M.D. Pertiwi; A.S. Romdon; Y. Hidayat; R.P. Ramadhan; D. Yuniati; . Saptana; . Syahyuti; N. Khaririyatun; S. Ika; R.K. Jatuningtyas; . Subiharta; R.N. Hayati; S. Sudarto; M.P. Yufdy; B. Nuryanto; A. Prasetyo
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Indonesian Government is promoting sorghum as an alternative commodity to substitute wheat. The cultivation of this commodity on dryland is initiated in forestry areas through social programs. This study aimed to analyze the economic feasibility, perception of farmers, ...
Read More
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The Indonesian Government is promoting sorghum as an alternative commodity to substitute wheat. The cultivation of this commodity on dryland is initiated in forestry areas through social programs. This study aimed to analyze the economic feasibility, perception of farmers, and environmental sustainability of sorghum-eucalyptus agroforestry in Majalengka.METHODS: This study innovatively combined qualitative and quantitative methods to assess economic, social, and environmental aspects across five dimensions, namely business organization, actors, working mechanisms, economic impacts, and sustainability of business and environment. Data were collected through focus group discussions and interviews with questionnaires, containing 5 dimensions and 23 attributes. The data collected were analyzed using the revenue-cost ratio, Likert scale, and scoring formulation, as well as multi-dimensional scale method. The level of environmental sustainability status and leverage attributes were examined using the Rapfish program and Monte Carlo analysis.FINDINGS: Sorghum-eucalyptus agroforestry was economically feasible with a revenue-cost ratio value higher than one. Farmers’ perceptions regarding the five dimensions of sorghum-eucalyptus were positive except for the operational mechanisms, and business and environmental sustainability. A distinfuished area of unfavorable perception was the use of sorghum waste as a substrate for renewable energy. The environmental sustainability index for sorghum-eucalyptus agroforestry was categorized as low except for the economic (61.9) and actor (52.3) which attained the moderately sustainable. The results showed that the sustainability analysis using multi-dimensional scale could be used as a guide in formulating strategies for enhancing and developing sorghum-eucalyptus agroforestry in the future.CONCLUSION: The problems in this study were related to the institutional governance of agroforestry business. The inclusion of the community, government, and private sector was unequal in carrying out the sustainability function of each dimension. The challenge for the future was proper and sustainable management of development efforts to realize economic sustainability, add value for society, and ensure environmental sustainability in agroforestry areas.
Environmental Management
A.D. Santoso; F.D. Arianti; E.S. Rohaeni; B. Haryanto; M.D. Pertiwi; L.P. Panggabean; A. Prabowo; S. Sundari; S.P. Wijayanti; I.N. Djarot; F.D. Kurniawati; F.L. Sahwan; T. Prasetyo; A. Barkah; T.A. Adibroto; R. Ridlo; I. Febijanto; A.A. Wasil; S. Lusiana; R. Rosmeika; R.B. Heryanto
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Substantial quantities of livestock waste and organic pollutants, such as nitrogen and phosphate, which pose environmental risks are generated from agriculture activities. A combination of paunch manure and rice straw is used as organic fertilizer. Therefore, this study confirmed ...
Read More
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Substantial quantities of livestock waste and organic pollutants, such as nitrogen and phosphate, which pose environmental risks are generated from agriculture activities. A combination of paunch manure and rice straw is used as organic fertilizer. Therefore, this study confirmed sustainability of organic fertilizer from paunch manure and rice straw waste.METHODS: Data were collected through focus group discussions and the closure of questionnaires which contained 29 attributes related to environmental, economic, social, and technological dimensions. The data collected was analyzed using the Multidimensional Scaling method, Rapfish software, and Monte Carlo analysis to ascertain the level of sustainability status and leverage attributes, and examine scoring errors and variations.RESULTS: Sustainability index for organic fertilizer production was 74.55 percent. The result showed that the method contributed to the growth of sustainability in various operational phases, including the processing and commercialization of organic fertilizer. According to analysis of the four dimensions, the environmental dimension held the highest leverage value at 90.1 percent, followed by social, economical, and technological dimensions at 70.50 percent, 63.69 percent, and 73.93 percent, respectively. This study identified seven leverage attributes that are very influential to sustainability of organic fertilizer production. These include water use and raw material efficiency, potential business scale increase, market absorption, the potential for public unrest, the manager or worker level of expertise in the manufacture of organic fertilizer as well as the process used to determine its quality and output.CONCLUSION: The proposed inquiry conducted within the context of this study identified the pivotal factors that influenced organic fertilizer supply framework as the quality, quantity, and market absorption of organic production. As a result, the o use of agricultural waste as a valuable addition to a perfect social, economical, and technological development system needs to be encouraged. The study is significant because it offered information about the viability of producing organic fertilizer in Indonesia, which the government and other stakeholders may use to guide their policies and programs.
