This research was aimed to investigate the effect of Co and Co-Mo metal loaded on Sarulla Natural Zeolite which has been activated and calcined (SNZ-Cal) as supports for better understanding of characterization and catalytic activity on hydrocracking of MEFA rubber seed oil. The Co and Co-Mo metal was added through a wet impregnation method using Co(NO₃)₂·6H₂O and (NH₄)·6Mo₇O₂₄·4H₂O precursor salts. The catalyst was oxidized at 500 °C for 2 h within oxygen gas flow, followed by a reduction process with H₂ gas flow with similar condition to obtain the catalysts. Based on the result, it was found that the resulted catalysts displayed an increase in crystal grain size compared to the metal-free catalyst. Particularly, catalyst that was impregnated with Co metal has a larger surface area and pore diameter and smaller pore volume than Co-Mo metal impregnated to the catalyst. In fact, it was revealed that this catalyst possessed the highest catalytic activity and selectivity. Furthermore, the resulting gas products reached 64 wt.% and the distribution of biogasoline fraction of hydrocarbons (C6-C12) amounted to 83.19 wt.%.

The two main problems faced by the conventional coconut shell charcoal industry are low charcoal yield and smoke pollution. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to modify the pyrolysis reactor equipped with tar scrubbers as a solution to the problem of smoke pollution and yield, and improve the quality of charcoal. A reactor of the size 2.4 x 1.2 x 1.2 m and the heat coming out of the rocket stove can be blown from the bottom, thus it can propagate evenly through a perforated plate. The reactor was designed with circulating pipes as places for channeling non-condensable gases to be used as fuel. Produced charcoal yield rose from 23% to 28% and the quality of charcoal fulfilled SNI requirements and those of the Republic of Indonesia Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources. The morphology of charcoal and mineral composition in SEM-EDX showed an increase in the composition of carbon elements by 83.63%. The FTIR spectrum results decrease in the broad intensity of O-H and the charcoal structure produced was amorphous. The total pore volume was 0.07336 cc/g and the pore surface area was 12.716 m2/g. This modified reactor with tar scrubber produces better yield, and minimal smoke pollution compared to traditional combustion of charcoal.

The aim of this paper is introducing new natural fibers for use as fillers in a polymeric matrix enabling production of cost-effective, biodegradable, and lightweight composites for load carrying structures. Abaca (Musa textilis) fiber, one such kind, is rich in cellulose relatively inexpensive, and abundantly available. In this study, investigations on the physical, chemical, and mechanical properties of abaca fiber are carried out, such as the density, cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin are determined experimentally. Analysis of the tensile force of the fiber, elongation of the fiber, and water absorption of the fiber in load direction and fiber length are also carried out. The data of chemical and physical analysis showedthe abaca fiber has high cellulose (66.43%), hemicellulose (24.7%), lignin (13.6%) and low water content (0.7%), that results caused the fiber has high value of mechanical property with tensile strength up to 308,7 MPa. The FTIR spectra showed the presence of several functional groups that can be found in lignin, hemicellulose and cellulose. The surface microphotograph showed the fiber has micron size and curled shape. The DSC thermal analysis was performed to determine the thermal property of abaca fiber also to determine its suitability as bioplastic.

The Sawahlunto-Sijunjung coal with Fix Carbon of 40.70 - 49.67% is classified as the High Volatile A Bituminous Coal. Sawahlunto coal is proposed to be an alternative source of graphite as raw material to prepare graphene because of the its affordable price and abundance in nature. Graphene oxide as precursor of graphene has been synthesized from sawahlunto coal via modified Hummers Method. Characterization of graphene oxide produced was conducted through several analysis such as X-Ray Diffraction analysis, Fourier Transform Infra Red (FTIR), UV-Visible Spectrophotometry, and SEM EDS that confirminga successful oxidation process of graphite isolated from Sawahlunto-Sijunjung Coal. In summary, Sawahlunto coal can be an alternative source for graphite as a raw material to produce graphene oxide.

Cyclic natural rubber (CNR: Resiprene-35) resinhas been used widely as paint and coating binders. However, when used on polyolefin substrates adhesion and mechanical properties of the CNR binders were inferior, and therefore required an adhesion promoter material. In this work, CNR resin was melt blended with polypropylene (PP) using methacrylic acid (MtAc) and methylacrylate (MeAt) as coagents, and filled with nanocrystalcellulose (NCC) to improve compatibility and adhesion on polyolefin surfaces as well as its mechanical strength. Processing conditions of the melt blending were optimized and the resulted (PP/CNR-g-MtAc-MeAt/NCC) nanocomposites were characterized using mechanical testing and Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) Spectroscopy. Furthermore, their adhesion characteristics have also been evaluated using Contact Angle Analysis. It was found that the PP/CNR-g-MtAc-MeAt/NCC nanocomposites have increased wettability and adhesion between polyolefin substrates and cyclic natural rubber binder with improved mechanical strength, and may be utilized as adhesion promoter between two substrates.