Public Lecture of Professor Dr. Mohd Marsin Sanagi, of the University of Technology Malaysia at IPB
Prof. Dr. Mohd Marsin Sanagi of Universitas Teknologi Malaysia (UTM) gave a Public Lecture on “Biopolymer-Based Adsorbents for Removal and Analysis of Environmental Pollutants from Water Sample”, for Bogor Agricultural Communities, at IPB Campus, Dramaga, on Wednesday, 5 April 2018.
"The reason I choose to carry out research on the environment with water, is due to bad environmental conditions, due to industrial development, especially heavy metal industry that is not in harmony with the environment," said Prof. Marsin. Heavy metals are naturally occurring elements that have a high atomic weight and a density at least 5 times greater than that of water. The heavy metals can come from heavy metal ions in wastewater from mining and industry. Their multiple industrial, domestic, agricultural, medical and technological applications have led to their wide distribution in the environment; raising concerns over their potential effects on human health and the environment.
Further Prof. Marsin explained to overcome this, a proper method of absorption with biopolymers is really needed, it can be categorized into four kinds, and with microextraction.
"Biopolymers are polymers that are naturally found in nature.Like polymers, biopolymers are chain-like molecules made up of repeating chemical blocks and can be very long in length and are produced by living organisms and thus are biodegradable, as they are the synthesized macromolecules of living organizations. Although there is vast diversity of living organisms. The chemical compositon and metabolic reactions of the organisms appear to be similar. There are four major classes of biomolecules, namely, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. Carbohydrates provide the body with source of fuel and energy, it aids in proper functioning of our brain, heart and nervous, digestive and immune system. Proteins can be antibodies, hormonal, enzymes and contractile proteins. Lipid hormones, like sterols, help in mediating communication between cells. Nucleic Acids are the DNA and RNA, they carry genetic information in the cell. They also help in synthesis of proteins, through the process of translation and transcription," said Professor who was awarded the gold medal at the International Exhibition Ideas Ideas-Investation-New Produxts (IENA) in Germany in 2008.
In the future, it is expected to realize the absorbent application of biopolimers, and modification of biopolimers with automated systems and more complex matrices. The use of biopolymer-based sorbents in solid-phase microextraction techniques has achieved a good reputation. A great variety of polysaccharides can be extracted from marine plants or microorganisms. Seaweeds are the major sources of polysaccharides such as alginate, agar, agarose, as well as carrageenans.
For Prof. Dr. Mohd Marsin Sanagi, this is the first time for him to visit IPB. In his present visit he complimented IPB for maintaining its green campus. Other special guest present in the Public Lecture among others was Chairman of the Department of Chemistry, of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences of Bogor Agricultural University (FMIPA IPB), Prof. Dr. Dyah Iswantini Pradono. M.Sc. Agr, who expressed her greatly appreciation for the Public Lectture of Prof. Dr. Mohd Marsin Sanagi. (Wied)
