Mangrove plants play an important role in maintaining the quality of coastal environments because they are capable of absorbing and accumulating heavy metals from water sediments. Therefore, this study aims to determine the potential of mangrove plants (Rhizophora apiculata) as accumulators of Pb (II) metal ions in the mangrove ecosystem of Nania Village, Ambon City. The results of this study show that the highest levels of Pb (II) metal ions were found in leaf samples at three sampling locations, followed by sediment and root samples. Characterization results using XRF to identify the types and composition of elements in sediment samples showed that Fe, K, Ca, and Ti were the elements with the highest composition, followed by Ba, Zr, Mn, Zr, Zn, Sn, and Pb. The results of sediment particle type measurements using a sieve shaker at three sampling locations showed that the dominant sediment particle type is coarse gravelly sand, which has a low capacity to absorb and accumulate heavy metals. Meanwhile, the calculation results of the BCF and TF values of mangrove plants (Rhizophora apiculata) were > 1, indicating their ability as accumulators to accumulate Pb (II) metal ions in the mangrove ecosystem in Nania Village, Ambon City.
Atmospheric water harvesting (AWH) is a promising approach to address water scarcity in arid and low-humidity regions. In this study, MOF-303 was synthesized hydrothermally and modified with CaCl₂ and graphite by wet impregnation. Among samples containing 20–40 wt% CaCl₂, MC30-G2 (30 wt% CaCl₂, 2 wt% graphite) showed the best performance, with an adsorption capacity of 402.53 mg g⁻¹ and an adsorption percentage of 40.25%, nearly 94.8% higher than MC30-G0 (206.60 mg g⁻¹). FTIR, PXRD, SEM-EDS, BET, and AAS confirmed successful incorporation of the modifiers while preserving the MOF-303 framework. The composite had a surface area of 823.58 m² g⁻¹. Cycling tests showed adsorption capacity decreased from 495.911 mg g⁻¹ to 361.371 mg g⁻¹ after five cycles, while desorption efficiency remained above 87.99%. These results indicate that MOF-303/CaCl₂/graphite is a promising adsorbent for atmospheric water capture.
Breast cancer is among the most common malignancies globally and continues to be a primary cause of cancer-related deaths in women. Modern chemotherapeutic agents often exhibit resistance and lack of selectivity for healthy cells, leading to significant side effects. Consequently, several strategies are essential to overcome resistance and enhance the selectivity and efficacy of chemotherapeutic drugs derived from natural sources. This study investigates the anticancer activity of a new bis-xanthone compound, 5,5'-Oxybis(1,3,7-trihydroxy-9H-xanthen-9-one), in MCF-7 breast cancer cells using a combination of in vitro and in silico approaches. The compound exhibited cytotoxicity against MCF-7 breast cancer cells, with an IC50 value of 30.47 µg/mL. The pharmacokinetic characteristics of bis-xanthone compounds were evaluated using absorption, distribution, metabolism, excretion, and toxicity (ADMET) tests, demonstrating a more favorable profile than that of doxorubicin, a standard anticancer drug.
Liquid smoke is a product obtained from the condensation of biomass pyrolysis at high temperatures and is widely applied in the food industry and biopolymer-based material development. Coconut shell is a potential raw material due to its high lignocellulosic content, which decomposes into phenolic compounds, carbonyls, and organic acids during pyrolysis. The research aims to investigate the chemical characteristics and antioxidant activity of liquid smoke derived from coconut shell, as well as to evaluate its effectiveness as a chitosan solvent. The analyzed parameters included acetic acid content, pH, total phenolic content, antioxidant activity using the DPPH method, and chitosan solubility at various liquid smoke concentrations (5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%). The results showed the total acid content of liquid smoke was 6.798 ± 0.398% g AAE/mL, with a pH value of 2.42 ± 0.04. The total phenolic content was 4.715 ± 0.878% g GAE/mL. Antioxidant activity testing resulted in an IC₅₀ value of 0.53%, indicating strong antioxidant capacity. Chitosan dissolved optimally in 20% liquid smoke, comparable to dissolution in 2% acetic acid. These findings demonstrate that coconut shell liquid smoke has significant antioxidant potential and can serve as an environmentally friendly alternative solvent for chitosan dissolution.
Indonesia has a constantly increasing energy demand. One energy source similar to fossil fuels is biomass. Biomass is organic material derived from living organisms. Indonesia has a constantly increasing energy demand. One energy source similar to fossil fuels is biomass. Biomass is organic material derived from living organisms. Water spinach (Ipomoea aquatica) contains cellulose fibers, which can be broken down into glucose through fermentation with yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae), then converted into bioethanol. This study used an experimental method involving a fermentation process carried out over 3, 4, 5, 7, and 10 days. The bioethanol content produced from the distillation process was analyzed using a pycnometer and Gas Chromatography (GC). The highest bioethanol content was obtained in a 5-day fermentation process and a yeast mass of 7 grams, namely 28%. This result is not much different from the GC analysis result of 28.52%. Statistical analysis using ANOVA yielded a p-value of 0.021 (< 0.05), indicating that fermentation time and yeast dosage significantly influenced bioethanol content. The results of this study show that water spinach has the potential to be used for bioethanol production. This supports the goals of the 2030 SDGs, especially points 7, 8, 12, 13, and 15.
This study investigates the morphological and structural characteristics of chitosan/graphene quantum dots/titanium dioxide (CS/GQDs/TiO₂) composite films with TiO₂ concentrations of 50–250 mg/L as coating materials for modified working electrodes. The films were prepared using ionic gelation and stirring methods. Characterization was performed using Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-Ray Diffraction (XRD), and Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM). FTIR analysis confirmed hydrogen bonding and coordination interactions among chitosan, GQDs, and TiO₂ through the shift of –OH/–NH₂ bands and the appearance of Ti–O–Ti and C–O–Ti bands. XRD analysis showed an increase in crystallinity from 20.82% to 41.35%, indicating improved structural ordering after TiO₂ incorporation. SEM observations revealed morphological transformation from the rough surface of pure chitosan to a more compact and homogeneous structure at moderate TiO₂ concentrations, while agglomeration appeared at higher concentrations. These results demonstrate that the incorporation of GQDs and TiO₂ enhances the structural stability and morphology of the chitosan matrix, making the composite promising for electrochemical electrode coating applications.
Remazol Yellow, a synthetic dye waste, is carcinogenic and mutagenic, necessitating waste treatment. One of the methods used is adsorption with silica adsorbents and sugarcane bagasse. Silica has unusual features, including mechanical stability at high temperatures, strong ion-exchange capacity, and a large surface area with broad pores. The inclusion of chitosan increases the number of active sites on silica as an adsorbent. The inclusion of the binding agent glycidoxypropyltrimethoxysilane (GPTMS) can improve the link between silica and chitosan as the dye adsorbent concentration increases. The FTIR characterization results indicate absorption bands at 451 cm-1, 796 cm-1, and 958 cm-1, corresponding to the spectra of silica and chitosan chemical groups. The XRD analysis revealed crystalline silica in the form of the cristobalite phase. SEM analysis revealed that the binding chemical increased the surface porosity of the silica-chitosan adsorbent. The optimal adsorption conditions for utilizing chitosan-modified silica adsorbent are a pH of 2 and a contact time of 2 hours. An adsorbent mass of 0.5 g, with an adsorption capacity value of 2.17 mmol/g, influences the growth in adsorption capacity, as does an adsorbate concentration of 80 ppm, with an adsorption capacity value of 2.8 mmol/g.
The purpose of this research is to produce an activated carbon composite from PET (Polyethylene Terephthalate) plastic waste combined with Fe₃O₄ for methylene blue dye wastewater treatment. Activated carbon was produced by carbonizing PET plastic, followed by physical activation at 850°C for 25 minutes and chemical activation by soaking in 4M KOH for 2 hours. Activated carbon–Fe₃O₄ composite ware was synthesized by coprecipitation with mass ratios of 1:1 (composite 1), 3:2 (composite 2), and 2:1 (composite 3). XRD and SEM were used to analyze the activated carbon, and the best-performing composite was further characterized by XRD and SEM-EDX mapping. The composite contains a crystalline phase, likely originating from Fe₃O₄. The composite's morphology consists of fine, high-surface-area particles. The detection of Fe and O peaks in the elemental analysis verified the existence of Fe₃O₄ within the sample. The highest adsorption capacity was achieved by composite 2, reaching 3.244 mg/g under optimum conditions at pH 7 for 30 minutes, and was best fit by the pseudo-second-order adsorption kinetic model. The synthesis of the activated carbon–Fe₃O₄ composite enhances the adsorption capacity for methylene blue and facilitates separation using an external magnet.
The demand for efficient and sustainable global energy sources continues to increase alongside technological developments. In this case, the development of electrical energy storage devices, such as supercapcitor, is essential. Supercapacitors have a fairly high capacitance, large power density, fast charging and discharging processes, and good durability. Computational studies through molecular dynamics simulations were conducted to understand the properties and dynamics of a supercapacitor system with activated carbon-based electrodes. This study aims to observe the effect of electrolyte types on the properties of activated carbon as a supercapacitor electrode based on the dynamic movement of electrolyte ions in the system molecular dynamics simulations using Large Scale Atomic/Molecular Massively Parallel Simulator (LAMMPS) software with OPLS-AA force field parameters were carried out to study the supercapacitor system. The variations of electrolyte systems studied include C₃H₅N₂⁺/BF₄⁻, C₃H₅N₂⁺/CH₃COO⁻, and K+/OH- in acetonitrile (ACN) solvent. Simulation results show that the system with C₃H₅N₂⁺/BF₄⁻ electrolyte has the best performance as a supercapacitor system. This is seen from the interface interaction with the electrode and good ion diffusion, the highest ion diffusion coefficient value of 18,4×10-11 m2/s, and the highest specific capacitance value of 199,86 μF/cm2.
This study aimed to evaluate the methylene blue adsorption performance of sodium alginate-based copolymers synthesized from acid-treated and base-treated Chrysophyllum albidum seed. The copolymers were prepared through chemical pretreatment and copolymerization with sodium alginate, then characterized using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, X-ray diffraction, and scanning electron microscopy to assess functional groups, structural arrangement, and surface morphology. Batch adsorption experiments were conducted under varying pH, adsorbent dosage, temperature, and contact time, while the data were evaluated using Box Behnken optimization, Langmuir and Freundlich isotherm models, and pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. The base-treated copolymer showed superior adsorption performance, achieving 90.1% maximum methylene blue removal compared with 79.9% for the acid-treated copolymer. It also recorded higher Langmuir adsorption capacity, stronger adsorption intensity, and better surface accessibility. The optimum conditions were pH 10.45, dosage 0.58 g, temperature 36.77 °C, and contact time 174.47 min, with desirability of 1.000. The adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second order model. The results indicate that base-treated Chrysophyllum albidum seed sodium alginate copolymer is a promising low-cost adsorbent for methylene blue removal from wastewater.
This study aims to investigate the excited-state dynamics governing charge generation and recombination processes in organic photovoltaic (OPV) materials to better understand their efficiency-limiting mechanisms. Time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) and transient absorption spectroscopy (TAS) were employed to examine exciton lifetimes, charge transfer rates, and recombination behavior in donor–acceptor blends based on P3HT:PCBM and PTB7:PC71BM systems. The spectroscopic data reveal that the charge separation efficiency strongly depends on the morphology and energetic alignment between donor and acceptor components. TRPL measurements indicate that optimized blend morphology leads to extended exciton lifetimes and reduced nonradiative recombination, while TAS analysis confirms the presence of long-lived charge-separated states contributing to photocurrent generation. These findings provide crucial insights into the relationship between molecular structure, electronic interactions, and photophysical responses in OPV systems. The study concludes that controlling the nanoscale phase distribution and interfacial energy offsets is essential to improving charge separation and overall device performance.
Chitosan (C6H11NO4)n is a chitin-derived polymer that has good biocompatibility, biodegradability, and bioabsorbability properties. This compound can be obtained from exoskeleton waste such as mangrove crabs and Windu prawn. This study aims to evaluate the comparison of chitosan levels based on the degree of deacetylation (%DD) from the waste shell, head, and leg of Windu prawn and mangrove crab shell waste obtained from the coastal area of Pasuruan, East Java. The extraction method was carried out through the stages of deproteinization, demineralization, and deacetylation using an alkaline solution, and then the characterization of molecular structure and %DD was carried out using an FTIR spectrophotometer. The results showed that chitosan from Windu prawn shell had the highest %DD of 73.0%, while mangrove crab shell and prawn head and leg showed lower values of 55.3% and 63.9%. This difference in %DD value indicates a variation in the success rate of deacetylation due to differences in biomaterial composition. The results of SEM testing showed that the use of the type of material in the manufacture of chitosan would affect the results of the surface morphology produced, where the Windu prawn shell produced the flattest surface.
Sugarcane bagasse represents a promising lignocellulosic feedstock for second-generation bioethanol production. This study evaluated the performance of immobilized Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation (SSF) systems using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Zymomonas mobilis for ethanol production from alkali-pretreated sugarcane bagasse. Delignification using 10% NaOH enhanced cellulose accessibility for enzymatic hydrolysis by immobilized Aspergillus niger. SSF was conducted under anaerobic conditions at 30°C for 80 h. Reducing sugar dynamics, physicochemical properties, FTIR spectra, and GC analysis were used to evaluate ethanol formation and quality. The SSF system employing S. cerevisiae produced a higher ethanol concentration (2.83% v/v) and purity (99.77%) compared to Z. mobilis (2.20% v/v; 89.92%). Although higher residual reducing sugars were observed in the Z. mobilis system, ethanol conversion efficiency remained lower, indicating metabolic limitations under SSF conditions. FTIR and GC analyses confirmed ethanol formation with high water content in both distillates. These results demonstrate that microbial robustness plays a critical role in immobilized SSF performance, with S. cerevisiae exhibiting superior fermentative stability and ethanol yield compared to Z. mobilis.
Stroke is one of the leading causes of death worldwide, there’s a need for rapid and affordable diagnostic tools. This study developed a paper test kit based on a colorimetric sensor utilizing silver nanoparticles (AgNp) synthesized via sodium borohydride (NaBH4) reduction for cortisol detection as a biomarker related to stroke disease. The synthesized AgNp showed a distinct surface plasmon resonance peak at around 402 nm by UV-Vis spectrophotometry, confirming successful nanoparticle formation. Particle size analyzer (PSA) revealed uniform nanoscale distribution, with an average particle size of approximately 25 – 40 nm. The immobilization techniques of layer by layer and immersion were compared for embedding AgNp onto the paper substrate. The LBL technique is more suitable for analytical precision and reproducibility, while the immersion technique is advantageous for rapid, large-area production of paper-based colorimetric sensors. The developed paper taper testing kit exhibited a gradual color change from yellow to brown with increasing cortisol concentration. The quantitative value as a linear correlation and sensitivity was 0.09984 and 0.069 µM/mL, respectively. The RGB value of the developed paper test kit is (210, 180, 140). The results highlight the potential of the AgNp-based paper sensor as rapid and portable analytical platform for cortisol detection.
The escalation of crude oil exploitation poses significant risks of leakage and oil spills in the oceans. Therefore, this research aims to synthesize superhydrophobic sponges utilizing lignin derived from Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch (OPEFB) waste. Lignin was isolated from OPEFB with the addition of 15% NaOH, followed by neutralization and purification using H₂SO₄, which yielded a recovery of 30.3%. Subsequently, melamine sponges were modified via a facile dip-coating technique using a mixture of lignin, Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), and (3-aminopropyl)triethoxysilane (APTES). The physicochemical properties and material performance were characterized using 1H-NMR, FTIR, and Water Contact Angle (WCA) measurements. 1H-NMR analysis confirmed the successful isolation of the lignin structure, while FTIR spectra verified the effective deposition of the silane-lignin layer on the sponge skeleton. Contact angle analysis results indicated a significant surface transformation, where the sponge shifted from a superhydrophilic nature 0° to a highly superhydrophobic state (170.91°). With such performance, this material holds great potential as an effective, eco-friendly adsorbent for oil spill remediation in aquatic environments.
Wastewater containing methylene blue, discharged into rivers, significantly impacts water quality due to its resistance to natural degradation. This study investigated the treatment of methylene blue using the photo-Fenton method, employing UV light to generate hydroxyl radicals (•OH) through the reaction of hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and Fe catalyst. Natural zeolite was used as a support material, activated with NaOH solution, and impregnated with FeSO₄·7H₂O. Semi-quantitative EDS analysis indicated an iron content of 6.2 wt%. The XRD result shows that the crystalline iron phase was hematite. The photo-Fenton experiments were performed at a catalyst dosage of 0.1 g/L to degrade methylene blue with an initial concentration of 20 mg/L by varying pH levels (3, 5, 7) and H₂O₂ concentrations (15, 30, 45 mM). The optimal conditions were found to be a combination of 45 mM H₂O₂ concentration, pH 3, and under 365 nm UV lamp irradiation, achieving a maximum decolorization efficiency of 99.77% at 120 minutes. H₂O₂ concentration did not significantly affect final decolorization percentage, indicating that excess H₂O₂ does not enhance degradation beyond a certain threshold. The lowest final methylene blue concentration achieved was 0.05 mg/L, and the final chemical oxygen demand (COD) was reduced to 243.6 mg/L.
In Indonesia, cancer is one of the diseases with a high mortality rate. In 2018, there were 348,809 cases of cancer, with 16.7% of all cases being breast cancer. In Indonesia, breast and cervical cancer are the most common types. The purpose of this study was to determine the secondary metabolite content of compounds and the anticancer activity of kamandin saebo extract against T47D breast cancer cells from kamandin saebo (Glossocardia leschenaultii [Cass.] Veldkamp) samples using various types of solvents. The methods used were sample preparation, moisture content analysis, extraction using the ultrasonic method, secondary metabolite analysis using reagents, and anticancer testing against T47D breast cancer cells. The plants were washed thoroughly to obtain powder and sieved with a 60 mesh, with a moisture content of 11.5% (w/w), and the extraction results obtained concentrated extracts from various types of solvents. The secondary metabolite content of kamandin saebo is flavonoids, steroids, alkaloids, and tannins. The anticancer activity of methanol, ethyl acetate, and n-hexane extracts, with IC50 values of 340, 272, and 107 µg/ml, respectively. The n-hexane extract has anticancer potential compared to ethyl acetate and methanol extracts.
This study aims to synthesize, characterize, and evaluate the photocatalytic activity of a montmorillonite–ZnO (MMT/ZnO) composite for the degradation of methylene blue (MB) under ultraviolet (UV) and dark (non-UV) conditions. The composite was prepared by mixing synthetic montmorillonite derived from Indonesian soil with ZnO in ethanol, followed by calcination at 400 °C for 2 hours, and subsequently characterized using X-ray fluorescence (XRF). The degradation tests were performed using various composite masses (0.5–2.5 g) and compared with single ZnO and montmorillonite materials through visible spectrophotometry analysis. The results revealed that under UV irradiation, MMT/ZnO achieved the highest degradation efficiency of 98.37%, while under non-UV conditions, MB removal remained high at 88.39%, primarily driven by adsorption. These findings confirm a synergistic effect between the adsorption capacity of montmorillonite and the photocatalytic activity of ZnO, where adsorption dominated MB removal while photocatalysis contributed to enhancing overall degradation efficiency. The novelty of this study lies in the utilization of synthetic Indonesian montmorillonite as a ZnO support, which enhances photocatalytic efficiency while reducing production costs. This finding highlights the potential of MMT/ZnO composites as an environmentally friendly and cost-effective alternative for dye wastewater treatment in the textile industry.
Buru Island in Maluku Province is one of the sites of unlicensed gold mining activities (Illegal Gold Mining, IGM), which may lead to environmental pollution due to improper waste management. This study aimed to analyze the concentrations of mercury (Hg) and arsenic (As) as hazardous pollutants (Hazardous and Toxic Materials, HTM) in gold processing tailings from Dafa and Debowae Villages, Buru Island. Tailings samples were collected from three different sites. Mercury concentrations were determined using Cold Vapor AAS, while As was analyzed using Hydride-Generation AAS based on the APHA-AWWA-WEF standard method (2005). The results showed that Hg levels in tailings from Debowae Village (Location 1 and 2) were 399.18 mg/kg and 286.39 mg/kg dry weight, respectively, whereas Dafa Village (Location 3) reached 1182.51 mg/kg dry weight. Arsenic concentrations ranged from 0.59 to 0.74 mg/kg dry weight across all locations. According to Indonesia Government Regulation PP No. 22 of 2021 on Hazardous Waste Management, Hg concentrations in all study sites exceeded the quality standard, whereas As levels remained below the permissible limits. These findings highlight the serious potential risk of mercury contamination in artisanal gold mining areas on Buru Island.
Indonesia is a country with a large population and rapid industrial growth, facing serious challenges related to waste management. Waste is the remains produced by human activities. One interesting solution to handle the problem is the production of ecoenzymes through the fermentation process of natural organic waste materials. Ecoenzymes are biotechnology products that produce various types of enzymes and organic chemicals that are useful for various applications. Apart from that, laboratory tests also revealed the presence of antioxidant activity in these ecoenzymes, for Ecoenzyme A (IC50 = 13735.9 μg/mL) about 0.4 mL of ecoenzyme solution could inhibit 50% of radical activity, and for Ecoenzyme B (IC50 = 12029.4 μg/mL) about 0.3 mL solution could inhibit 50% of radical activity, and for Ecoenzyme C (IC50 = 15765.1 μg /mL) about 0.4 mL ecoenzyme could inhibit 50% of radical activity, which, although categorized as weak, is because the volume of ecoenzyme produced is very much greater (2 L) than the volume used for antioxidant testing, this product is much more economical and has enormous potential to be developed into cosmetic ingredients and other industrial products.
