IPB University Lecturers Introduce Geotextile Innovation to Wirajaya Village Community
A combined team of lecturers from IPB University, Pakuan University (Unpak), and Nusa Bangsa University (UNB) presented geotextile innovation in Wirajaya Village, Jasinga, Bogor, West Java (28/7). The team, led by Dr Siti Nikmatin, IPB University lecturer from the Department of Physics and researcher at the Palm Oil Study Centre, was present to introduce the process of processing oil palm empty fruit bunches (TKKS) waste into geotextile products.
One of the problems of Wirajaya Village as an area around the oil palm plantation in Bogor is the abundance of TKKS biomass without optimal management.
Dr Siti Nikmatin explained that geotextiles are thin porous sheets like cloth that are used for civil works in soil strengthening and stabilisation. She explained that apart from the civil sector, geotextiles can also be used as netting, mulch substitutes, polybags, and various handicrafts.
The IPB University lecturer said that the processing of TKKS waste into geotextiles received funding from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Research and Technology (Kemendikbudristek) through the 2024 Technology and Innovation Dissemination Programme (PDTI) scheme.
“The stages of processing TKKS into geotextiles are quite simple and can be done by farmer groups independently with simple machines that have also been donated to the Manunggal Alam young farmer group,” said Dr Siti Nikmatin.
Dr Siti Nikmatin explained that the stages of processing TKKS start from washing and cleaning the TKKS. Next, the TKKS is sorted and fibrillated or chopped into short fibres. The short fibres are arranged on thin boards to be sprayed with latex adhesive or liquid rubber. These thin sheets are then sun-dried and thinned using the roll-press method.
“Not only making geotextiles to form sheets, simple works in the form of polybags to replace plastic pots can also be produced. With this training, it is hoped that the utilisation of palm biomass waste will be maximised. Besides avoiding the accumulation of TKKS, the waste can also be sold as geotextile products that have economic value,” said Dr Siti Nikmatin.
The team comprising Dr Irmansyah, Mahfuddin Zuhri, MSi and Rima Adiati, MT from IPB University, Prof Luluk Setyaningsih from UNB and Dr Asep Denih from Pakuan University is not only focusing on making geotextiles.
In the future, the team of lecturers will also provide training in making geotextile derivative products that have higher economic value. Not only that, the team will also provide training for residents in the Wirajaya Village area on how to sell products through the marketplace and promote products in a wider market. (rfa/ra/Rz) (IAAS/RUM)
