Center for Energy Studies of UGM in collaboration with the Directorate of Research and Community Service, Directorate General of Higher Education (DP2M DIKTI) in the Ministry of National Education, with the National Strategic Research Competitive Grant, conduct a technology development research on the producion of bioethanol and bioalcohol from carbon dioxide gas (CO2). The multi-year research collaboration started on July 15, 2010 and will expire on November 30, 2011.
Prof. Drs. Jumina, Ph.D., Head of the Center, said the research is intended to develop an efficient technology to convert carbon dioxide into methanol, ethanol, isopropanol, and t-butanol, also known as second generation bioalcohol. The research is carried out in line with the bioethanol diversification efforts undertaken by the government.
Indonesia bioethanol production is known to reach 250 million liters/year and is relatively difficult to be improved because of the limitations of vegetable raw materials. Consequently, until now, there is still a deficit amounting to 1200 million liters of ethanol per year to meet Gasohol consumption with 3% concentration.
"This new technology development is expected to accelerate the implementation of bioethanol production that can meet premium national consumption needs, which reaches 48 million kiloliters per year," he explained in a release sent on Friday (16/7). Jumina added, the development of this technology will also produce products of short chain hydrocarbons (methane, ethene, and propane) which is a component of LNG and LPG, short-chain alkenes (ethylene, propilenam and, isobutilena), as well as urea.