Universitas Indonesia (UI) once again demonstrates its commitment to sustainability and innovation by selecting Dr.-Eng. Arnas Lubis, S.T., M.T. as UI Research Collaboration Ambassador. Dr. Arnas, a lecturer at the Faculty of Engineering UI, stood out among his fellow researchers. His project focused on utilizing plastic waste as the raw material for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture technology directly from the air.
This collaboration involves Prof. Andre Bardow from ETH Zurich, Switzerland, with a research project titled “Metal-Organic Framework (MOF) and Activated Carbon from Wasted Plastics as Adsorbent for Direct Air Capture (DAC): Synthesis, Adsorption Capacity, and Life Cycle Assessment.” The research explores the potential of eco-friendly materials to absorb CO2 and is expected to contribute to the reduction of global carbon emissions.
Dean of FTUI, Prof. Dr. Ir. Heri Hermansyah, S.T., M.Eng., IPU, stated, “Dr. Arnas Lubis’ research holds significant potential for environmental impact, particularly in efforts to reduce carbon emissions. This MOF-based CO2 capture technology, utilizing activated carbon from plastic waste, not only offers an innovative solution to plastic pollution but also accelerates Indonesia’s transition toward achieving its net zero emission target by 2060.”
Additionally, this research supports sustainability agendas by using plastic waste as a primary raw material. “If widely adopted, this technology could help Indonesia achieve more substantial emission reductions, especially in the industrial and energy sectors, which are the country’s major carbon emission contributors,” Prof. Heri added.
The research focuses not only on developing technical technologies but also on the exchange of methodologies and technology transfer between UI and ETH Zurich. Dr. Arnas explained, “We hope this research becomes a starting point for producing more efficient and easily implementable CO2 capture technology. The use of local plastic waste is crucial to support sustainability and reduce the global carbon footprint.”
As part of this collaboration, FTUI students will also be directly involved. “We plan to send undergraduate students from FTUI to Waseda University through the INSPIRED program from CIL UI to study Molecular Dynamics,” said Dr. Arnas. “Our main goal is to ensure that students gain a deep understanding of advanced technologies like this so that they can later apply that knowledge in future research and innovation,” Dr. Arnas added.
The research, which will continue until the end of 2024, is expected to produce a DAC-based CO2 capture system with optimal CO2 absorption capacity, ready for industrial-scale implementation, especially in the green technology and waste management sectors.
Through the Research Collaboration Ambassador Program, UI continues to strengthen its position as a leading institution in global research, committed to providing concrete solutions to increasingly complex environmental challenges. This program enables UI researchers to collaborate with top universities worldwide, broadening their perspectives and enhancing the quality of research in Indonesia.
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