The nanotechnology team from UGM is developing anti-haze pollution masks. Different from regular masks, this mask has a sheet with nano size particles that can prevent haze particles to enter the lungs.
“Our group is making a filter for nano membranes to filter haze pollution,” said Dr. Kuwat Triyana, one member of the team, during the International Conference on Science and Technology (ICST) in Eastparc Hotel, Yogyakarta, on Thursday (12/11).
According to Kuwat, the idea for the mask was to reduce the impacts of the haze caused by forest fires. Research is almost completed and they plan to make ten masks to be tested on the field. “We had planned to test the mask in Palangkaraya, but since the haze has started to thin out there, we made a haze model to test how much haze particles go through the filter,” he said.
Kuwat said the mask was able to prevent the entrance of haze particles, except air molecule or oxygen. As high as 70% particles can go through regular masks to the lungs.
Rector of UGM, Prof Ir Dwikorita Karnawati M.Sc., Ph.D., said the nano technology research at UGM had developed fast. Some even collaborated with international researchers. One of the application of nano technology in biomedicine is the Gama-CHA product for bone replacement material.
Meanwhile, Head of UGM Publisher and Publication unit, Prof. Dr. Harno Dwi Pranowo, said publications of research in science and technology are increased. To encourage lecturers and students to publish their articles in international journals, his office hosted the ICST international conference. “We received as many as 230 papers to be presented during this scientific meeting. Selected papers will be published in the UGM’s Indonesia Journal of Chemistry that is indexed by Scopus,” he said.