Again, UGM students gained a prestigious international achievement. Four students of Chemical Engineering department succeeded as the top 30 finalists of Mondialogo Engineering Award 2009. By writing a scientific report entitled “Zero Waste Production System in Small/Medium Industrial Cluster as The Core of Sustainable Innovative Villagesâ€, Annisa Utami (2006), Annisa Sekar Palupi (2006), Benny (2006), and M. Aqwi Gibran (2007) were able to eliminate about 932 proposals from many countries. Because of their achievement, they were entitled to a funding amounting to 5 thousands Euro and they would continue to the next phase in Stuttgart, Germany, from 6- 9 November.
The success of UGM team as one of the Finalists because there has been intensive cooperation with Chalmers University team from Sweden, from collecting idea to making the proposal. Annisa Utami said that Sweden had been chosen as partner because this country is well-known for its biogas technology. Through this cooperation, it is hoped that the cooperation will be able to play a big role in developing biogas in this project.
Further, Annisa Utami said that the project they proposed is a development of chain center from a previous project by her lecturer on waste recycling in Samigaluh sub-district, Kulon Progo Regency. In Samigaluh, there are 18 manufacturers of essential oils. Yet, none of them conducts waste recycling.
Annisa mentioned that in a day, a manufacturer generally produces oil twice a day. Each needs 500 kg of leaves and branches of clove and patchouli. An amount of 500 kg of raw materials will only produce 2,5 % of oil and the rest (97,5%) becomes the waste in the form of dry leaves and water. How much waste produced is imaginable.
“The rest of the oil has not been used by the people while the leaves waste can be used as fuels for tofu industry and the water residue actually still contains the oil. So, it can be reprocessed by separating the oil from the water with a decater. Up till now the water is only thrown away so it causes pollution because it has not been purified.†Explained Annisa Utami at Fortakagama, Friday (28/8)
Benny added, the essence of this project was to invite people to utilize the waste. Waste or polluter can be beneficial if it is properly processed. The project combined all potentials in Sidoarjo village to become an integral system. The supporting pillars of this system are essential oil industry, biogas producers, community organizers, government and the university.
From 30 finalists that will go to Germany, only the top 10 will obtain the funding of 15 thousands Euro to conduct the research. Therefore, UGM team makes many preparations for this competition. Preparations include intensive discussion via email with Chalmers University students in Sweden and documentary preparation (photos and video) on their project.