Faculty of Animal Science (FAS) students, Firman Dwi Dewanto (class of 2017), won 2nd place in the Community Works Competition IV 2018 organized by the Solo Raya Unsoed Alumni Family on September 9, 2018 for their ideas on fish scales waste management as a solution to batik waste ink pollution. Firman collaborated with his colleagues from the Faculty of Biology, namely Giyantolin, Alfianto, and Ilzam Shadik Maulidi.
“Our work is entitled “Processing Fish Scales Waste as a Solution of Batik Ink Pollution Based on Green Chemistry through a Stratified Filter”. We write this work because the batik industry owners have not found their batik waste treatment solution. Chitosan from fish scales is an adsorbent that is not harmful to the environment that can be a solution to these problems,” said Firman when being intewed at the FAS UGM Campus, Monday (10/29).
Firman added, textile dyes in batik contain transition metals with a density of ≥ 5 g / cm3 and are included in heavy metals which will be harmful to the environment due to their high toxicity. “Fish scales contain compounds that are suitable for absorbing compounds as well as purifying waste in waste. The use of fish scales also helps reduce fish scales waste that has not been fully utilized by traders and the people, ” he said.
Firman explained, the chitosan will be formed with the KISI (Chitosan Fish Fin) filter system. “KISI filter is a combination of chitosan fish scales and multilevel filters to create maximum filtration and absorption processes so that harmful metal compounds can be reduced and when discharged, it does not pollute the environment. The multilevel filter consists of a sponge, coconut fiber, zeolite, activated charcoal, and gravel,” he explained.
Firman and his team are optimistic that KISI Filter has a great potential to be developed as a waste treatment solution for batik. “The KISI Filter materials are easy to obtain and with the support of the government and the private sector, we are sure that the KISI Filter is able to overcome batik waste,” he concluded. (Nadia)