Adang - Analytics Chemical Expert from Andalas University (Unand), West Sumatra (West Sumatra), Prof. Zilfa said that the natural zeolite found in Solok Regency has great potential to become a new economic source for the community.
"From a number of studies that I conducted, the zeolite in West Sumatra has the potential to improve the community's economy," said the academic from the Unand Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) in Padang, Saturday.
This was conveyed by Prof. Zilfa in a scientific oration entitled "Potensi Zeolit Alam West Sumatra for Improvement of Water Quality and Handling Organic and Inorganic Waste" during the inauguration of Unand professors.
According to the lecturer at the Faculty of MIPA Unand, the silica alumina compound can be industrialized because it has a better selling price than synthetic zellites.
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"Synthetic zeolites produced in factories are much more expensive than natural zeolites," said Prof. Zilfa.
He said Indonesia is a country rich in mining and mineral materials, one of which is zeolite. Therefore, he continued, research is needed to utilize natural resources for the welfare of the community.
"Based on its chemical properties and physical properties, the zeolite can be used as an absorber material, ion exchange, as a catalyst and support catalyst," he said.
In his scientific oration, Prof. Zilfa conveyed several successes in his research in a number of regions using zeolites. For example, the community service program in Nagari (village) Pakandangan, Padang Pariaman Regency.
In the study, which coincided with the Real Work Lecture Program (KKN), he succeeded in processing water which was originally yellow to clear. Although there has been no laboratory test yet, he said, water can already be used for washing and bathing needs.
"Physically, this water is colorless, not oily, and has no smell, so it can be used for bathing and washing needs," he explained.
He also managed to do the same in Nagari Sunua, Padang Pariaman Regency, where the community's well water was originally yellow, smells, and oily, which could be used after using a zeolite.
"After absorption using zeolite and several components such as sand, and water star stones become colorless, odorless and not oily," he explained.
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