Who would have thought that red calliandra leaves, a wild plant that often grows along roadsides, could hold the key to Indonesia’s clean energy future?
This was proven by Indah Kurniawaty, a researcher from the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) of the University of Indonesia (UI), who today, Wednesday (23/7), officially received a Doctorate in Chemistry, with a very satisfactory predicate, in an open session held at the Prof. Dr. G.A. Siwabessy Hall, FMIPA UI, Depok.
In his dissertation entitled “Improving the Performance of Gasoline-Ethanol Blend Fuel Using MgAl₂O₄ Additive Synthesized Through Green Synthesis Method from Calliandra Calothyrsus Leaf Extract”, Dr. Indah succeeded in developing a metal nanoparticle-based additive synthesized using red calliandra leaf extract.
This research was carried out intensively in the Nano and Interfacial Chemistry (NIC) Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, FMIPA UI, and in the Pertamina Laboratory.
The synthesized metal oxide additive was then added to the gasoline and ethanol mixture (PE10) to improve oxidation stability, corrosion resistance, and combustion performance of the environmentally friendly fuel.
“A mixture of ethanol and gasoline is indeed more environmentally friendly, but still faces challenges such as being more easily oxidized and causing engine corrosion. Using a green synthesis approach, we utilize the natural compounds in calliandra leaves, such as flavonoids and alkaloids, to create metal additives such as MgO, Al₂O₃, and MgAl₂O₄,” explained Dr. Indah while defending her dissertation.
Tests showed that PE10 supplemented with a metal oxide additive synthesized from calliandra leaf extract had significantly better stability, less deterioration during storage, and offered protection against rust. Combustion was also more complete, as evidenced by increased carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, an indicator of combustion efficiency, and decreased emissions of harmful pollutants such as nitrogen dioxide (NO₂) and sulfur dioxide (SO₂).
“I want to prove that future energy solutions can come from local plants. They don’t have to be expensive or environmentally harmful,” Dr. Indah told the UI Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences Public Relations team.
The doctoral promotion session was led by Prof. Dede Djuhana, M.Si., Ph.D., as the chief executive and Dean of FMIPA UI, and attended by Prof. Dr. Yoki Yulizar, S.Si., M.Sc. as promoter, and Dr. Eng. Haryo Satriya Oktaviano from PT Pertamina (Persero) as co-promoter.
Prof. Yoki stated that the results of this study support the national target to increase the contribution of New and Renewable Energy (EBT) to 31% by 2050, especially in the transportation sector which has so far relied on fossil fuels.
“This is a concrete step toward self-reliance in clean energy technology. Even more impressive, the raw materials come from abundant local resources,” said Prof. Yoki.
This research not only earned Dr. Indah a doctorate, but also opened up new opportunities in utilizing local plants to support Indonesia’s clean energy transition.
