A research team from the Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Indonesia (UI), has introduced an eco-friendly concrete innovation called PalmCrete®, which is based on recycled palm kernel shells. This product was first presented at the Semarak Usaha Kecil Mikro dan Koperasi (UKMK) Sawit 2024 event organized by the Palm Oil Plantation Fund Management Agency (BPDPKS), held from August 1 to 3, 2024, in Makassar, South Sulawesi. During the event, the Research Team Leader, Dr. Ir. Sotya Astutiningsih, M.Eng., outlined the research funded by the Palm Oil Research Grant in 2021.
Dr. Sotya, along with team members Dr. Dipl.-Ing. Nuraziz Handika, S.T., M.T., M.Sc.; Dr. Bastian O. B. Sentosa, S.T., M.T., M.Rech.; Dr. Arian Dhini, S.T., M.T.; Dr. Eng. Mochamad Adhiraga Pratama, S.T., M.T.; and Dwica Wulandari, S.T., M.T., M.Sc., investigated the use of palm kernel shells as a replacement for natural aggregates in concrete. This choice of material was based on the performance of the concrete, environmental considerations, and techno-economic studies.
According to Dr. Sotya, almost all parts of the palm oil tree can be utilized, including the shell of the fruit. After the fruit’s flesh is extracted to produce oil, the remaining material is the palm kernel shell. The shell can be categorized as a wood-based material with a high hardness of 26.9 on the hardness scale. When measured using the Vickers method, the hardness of the palm shell is comparable to that of pure gold.
In addition to its high hardness, palm shells contain bio-oil that acts as a preservative, making them resistant to termites. Therefore, in this research, the team used palm shells as a substitute for aggregates in concrete, resulting in a product named PalmCrete®. PalmCrete® has a density of about 1850–1900 kg/m³ and an average strength of 19.1 MPa. This strength is comparable to conventional concrete and is suitable for use in simple building structures such as residential buildings.
“PalmCrete® behaves like normal concrete under four-point bending and shows higher ductility compared to conventional concrete under semi-cyclic loading. This indicates that the concrete is more resistant to earthquake loads. PalmCrete® also has previous properties, making it potential for use as paving blocks with water drainage capabilities,” said Dr. Sotya.
Regarding this innovation, FTUI Dean, Prof. Dr. Ir. Heri Hermansyah, S.T., M.Eng., IPU, stated, “Various products derived from palm oil and its by-products can be produced by UKMKs as a means to promote the benefits of palm oil. Dr. Sotya’s participation in the Semarak UKMK event reflects FTUI’s commitment to sharing knowledge and expanding networks with palm oil industry stakeholders in Indonesia. I hope that in the future, palm oil UKMKs in Indonesia will become more competitive and contribute more significantly to the national economy.”
The Semarak UKMK Sawit 2024 event, themed “Successful Palm Oil UKMKs in Indonesia,” was attended by the Director of Planning and Fund Management of BPDPKS, Kabul Wijayanto; the Assistant II for Economic and Development Affairs of the South Sulawesi Provincial Government, Andi Sukri Mattinetta; the Head of Budget Implementation Division II of KANWIL DJPB South Sulawesi, Wahyu Harmono; Deputy Chief of South Sulawesi Police, Brig. Gen. Pol. Nasri Sulaeman; the Inspector of XIV/Hasanuddin Military Command, Brig. Gen. TNI Dwi Endrosasongko; and other guests. The event was attended by industry players, academics, and the general public who had the opportunity to see the latest innovations and developments in the palm oil industry firsthand.
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Public Communication Office
Faculty of Engineering Universitas Indonesia
