The UGM Faculty of Engineering (FT UGM) held an exhibition on Friday (Nov. 8) to disseminate research products.
The exhibition showcased a collection of research products by FT UGM faculty members, FT UGM downstream research projects, and student exhibitions.
The exhibition will take place at the multifunctional hall of the Engineering Research and Innovation Center (ERIC) and run for a week, from Nov. 8 to 15, 2024, from 09.00 to 15.00 WIB.
One booth attracted visitors with an array of batik-patterned fabrics. These fabrics are the result of research dissemination by Dr. Edia Rahyuningsih from UGM’s Chemical Engineering Department.
The primary product is a natural dye made from parts of merbau, tingi, jelawe, and tegeran trees.
“This batik fabric is called Gamaindigo. We developed this dye from natural materials derived from wood, leaves, and even the roots of trees,” explained Heni, one of the Gamaindigo Batik enthusiasts.
Through a series of processing steps, the Gamaindigo dye proved to have good pigmentation and is relatively durable.
Heni explained that one liter of dye could be used to dip fabrics multiple times to achieve optimal results. She also demonstrated the process of producing Gamaindigo Batik fabrics.
“First, we create patterns like regular batik, using techniques like tying, stamping, or jumput. Then the fabric is dipped into the dye, dried, dipped again, and this process continues until the dye is fully absorbed,” Heni explained.
The dyed fabric must be soaked in alum or lime to ensure the color doesn’t fade easily and remains long-lasting. Gamaindigo sells this natural dye in two forms: liquid and powder.
The price is also quite affordable: around IDR 50,000 per package, including the necessary additives. This natural dye can dye approximately 3 meters of fabric. It is also praised for being non-carcinogenic, making it more environmentally friendly than other textile dyes.
Research on mining materials was also presented in addition to Gamaindigo Batik. Gamahumat is an innovation in humic acid extraction from coal that can produce various residual products.
Candra and Anton from the Gamahumat team explained that coal is a valuable commodity, but its utilization often leaves behind a lot of residue. The oxidation process of coal produces humic acid, fulvic acid, and humin compounds.
“Humic acid is used to enrich soil nutrients, so we use it as a (supplement) for fertilizers,” Candra explained.
Gamahumat products have been implemented in the rice farming sector. As a result, rice produced without chemical fertilizers can achieve a quality nearly identical to regular rice.
Candra added that the shape of the rice grains is slightly different, but once cooked, it tastes the same as regular rice.
“The idea behind this innovation is to maximize coal usage without leaving waste. Besides humic acid, other products from the process include fulvic acid and coal briquettes,” Candra added.
This research supports the Coal Value-Added Enhancement Program (PNT) as regulated by Law No. 3 of 2020.
Not only were faculty members’ research products showcased, but students also took the spotlight at the exhibition. The Gadjah Mada Flying Object Research Center (Gamaforce) displayed various robotic works that have won national and international awards. Zulfa, a member of Gamaforce, explained the process of creating the robotic aircraft models developed by Gamaforce.
“We usually start our research in January and evaluate the products every two months. We often participate in competitions by August or September,” Zulfa said.
The latest creation, called Fiachra Aeromapper, has autonomous mapping capabilities. This aircraft was developed to map remote and hard-to-reach areas, such as disaster zones.
Other Gamaforce aircraft include Rasayana, GMFC, Khageswara, Ashwincharra, Sayakawidya, and Virachakra.
“We have won the Indonesian Flying Robot Contest several times, and we recently earned a medal in Turkey,” Zulfa continued.
FT UGM’s research product exhibition successfully showcased various campus innovations that can compete on a global scale. It is hoped that industry and society can utilize more research dissemination results.
Author: Tasya
Editor: Gusti Grehenson
Post-editor: Afifudin Baliya
Photographer: Firsto