Researh Grant

A grant is a formal mechanism through which a funding agency awards financial support to facilitate a specific research study, educational program, or strategic project. In the modern academic landscape, grants are fundamentally important because research does not find itself. Someone must "pay the invoices" for the sophisticated equipment, specialized personnel, and high-quality materials required to push the boundaries of knowledge.

Beyond mere financial survival, securing a grant is a vital part of a researcher's professional growth, enabling them to build a track record of funding and transform innovative ideas into tangible benefits for society. In today's highly competitive environment, these funds are the bridge that allows a researcher to move from theoretical concepts to practical, impactful discoveries.

I put a simple example of my funded grant on 2020. A clear example of this is the effort to tackle environmental pollution through sustainable chemistry, such as the synthesis of cellulose microbeads from banana peduncle waste. Our group got Rp 100 millions at that time for 10 month research.

Grant Proposal: Sustainable Cellulose Microbeads from Banana Peduncle Waste

B-Level Research Group Funding - Bandung Institute of Technology

Problem Statement

Bananas are a major commodity in Indonesia, but the plants only fruit once, leaving behind significant biomass that often ends up as agricultural waste. While most parts of the plant find some use, the banana peduncle (tangkai tandan) is rarely utilized despite containing approximately 72.9% cellulose. Simultaneously, the cosmetic industry relies heavily on microbeads (a small plastic particles often derived from petroleum). These microplastics pose a severe threat to human health and the environment because they cannot be filtered by current water treatment systems, leading to ingestion by marine life and eventual accumulation in the human body. There is a critical need for a biodegradable, eco-friendly alternative to these conventional microplastics. This research addresses the gap by converting local agricultural waste into high-value, functional biomaterials.

Objectives

The primary goal of this research is to develop a sustainable method for producing cellulose microbeads. The specific objectives are:

To synthesize cellulose microbeads utilizing cellulose extracted from banana peduncle waste.
To evaluate and optimize two distinct synthesis methods: direct cellulose dissolution and the formation of cellulose acetate derivatives.
To characterize the resulting microbeads to ensure they meet the physical and chemical requirements for industrial application

Methodology Summary

The research plan follows a four-stage experimental approach:

Cellulose Extraction: Banana peduncles are cleaned, cut, and soaked. The fibers undergo base hydrolysis to remove hemicellulose and bleaching to eliminate lignin, resulting in pure cellulose.
Microbead Synthesis: Two methods will be compared.
Method A involves dissolving cellulose in a NaOH/urea solution at -10°C.
Method B involves converting cellulose into cellulose acetate through esterification (activation, acetylation, and hydrolysis) before dissolution in acetone.
Particle Formation: The solutions are processed using Spinning Drop Atomization, where centrifugal force ejects droplets into a coagulation bath (HCl for Method A; water for Method B) to form spherical beads.
Characterization: The beads will be analyzed using FTIR for functional groups, NMR for acetylation degrees, and SEM for morphology and size. Mechanical stability assessments will ensure durability for cosmetic use.

Expected Impact

This project aims to provide a tangible benefit to the environment by replacing petroleum-based microplastics with biodegradable cellulose microbeads in commercial cosmetics. Beyond cosmetics, these microbeads have the potential to serve as adsorbents for industrial textile waste or heavy metal filtration. The academic impact includes the publication of one Scopus-indexed international journal article and one international conference proceeding. Ultimately, this research supports the national roadmap for integrating science and technology to produce strategic, eco-friendly materials.

Novelty

While cellulose extraction from various plants is known, the utilization of banana peduncle waste specifically as a raw material for cellulose microbeads has not been previously reported. This research is innovative because it not only tackles agricultural waste management but also optimizes two different chemical pathways (direct dissolution vs. derivative formation) to identify the most efficient and stable method for producing sustainable microbeads.

Budget Justification (Brief)

The total proposed budget is Rp 100,000,000. Funds are allocated as follows:

Personnel (Rp 28,000,000): Honors for the principal investigator and research assistants to oversee the 10-month project.
Materials/Consumables (Rp 40,600,000): Critical chemicals for extraction and synthesis, including NaOH, Acetic Anhydride, Acetone, and Dialysis Membranes.
Services and Travel (Rp 31,400,000): This covers student assistant honors, laboratory testing services, and travel for one international conference to disseminate findings.

Each item is essential to fulfill the experimental aims and ensure the successful characterization of the produced biomaterials

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