In the competition, the team highlighted the benefits of using biomass as a substitute for coal in the industry through a poster with the theme “Sustainable and Green Technology in Metal Production Process”.

Kendra explained their choice of biomass as a renewable source of energy, emphasizing its abundance in Indonesia and its carbon-neutral properties, which means the emissions released during its combustion are equivalent to those absorbed during its growth. Their poster also underscored the importance of selecting the appropriate substitution ratio and pre-treatment methods to achieve optimal combustion results. The optimal substitution value is about 12.5% while effective pre-treatment methods include pyrolysis, gasification, torrefaction, and hydrothermal carbonization (HTC).

“With partial substitution, we can reduce CO2 emission and lower the SO2 emission because biomass has a lower sulfur content than coal, thereby improving the sustainability of the metallurgical industry,” Kendra said.

Charlin shared that they participated in this competition to enhance their creativity in a field relevant to their studies while staying productive during the semester break. The knowledge they had previously gained in their Chemical Engineering courses about the co-firing process was applied in this competition.

They realized that making an effective poster required strong visualization through diagrams and illustrations, as well as the use of precise and targeted text. Smooth teamwork, with the help of online editing tools, was also the key to their success. As Chemical Engineering students, they felt challenged to participate in a competition within the field of metallurgy, which differs significantly from their primary field of study.

“It turns out that learning about the metallurgical industry is fun. We are now even more enthusiastic about creating and participating in future competitions” Giacinta concluded.

Translator: Halwa Syazwina Khairani (Postharvest Technology, 2022)