Sinergi
Vol. 30 No. 2 (2026)

Activated carbon air filter and rubber seed oil approach from waste rubber seed shell for alternative fuel and improving air quality

Feriyanto, Dafit (Unknown)
Zakaria, Supaat (Unknown)
Noviyanto, Alfian (Unknown)
Nurato, Nurato (Unknown)
Romahadi, Dedik (Unknown)
Pranoto, Hadi (Unknown)
Abdulmalik, Samir Sani (Unknown)



Article Info

Publish Date
07 Jun 2026

Abstract

Research related to rubber seed conversion to oil and activated carbon as filter media requires further exploration. Therefore, the main objective of this study to investigate the rubber seed oil as alternative energy and rubber seed Shell Activated Carbon (RSSAC). Thermo-chemical method conducted with separation process between the kernel and the shell. The process used temperatures of 550 and 600°C. Biodiesel was produced by a blending process using a frequency of 20kHz, temperature of 60oC and 2h holding time. In addition, the side product was converted into activated carbon through carbonization and activation using KOH. Air filter fabricated using three layers, where the top and bottom layers being non-woven and RSSAC in the middle. It compacted using hot-press method at temperature of 150°C for 60 s to produce an air filter media thickness of 3–5mm. The results show that there are several high compound concentrations i.e. CH4, aldehydes, and ketonestone. Several gases evolve, such as CO2, CO, CH4, H2O, ketone aldehyde, and HC. Microstructure analysis using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) of RSSAC shows that element C significantly increase up to 80%, while O, K, and Ca decreased up to 72%, 66% and 90%, respectively. RSSAC has a large surface area of 175.95m2/g, and it will have high effectiveness in improving indoor air quality (IAQ). This is indicated by the result of IAQ analysis where the humidity, temperature, CO, CO2, TVOC, and PM10 were lower than the acceptable limit of 70%, 27oC, 1000ppm, 10ppm, 3 ppm, and 0.15 mg/m3, respectively.

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Journal Info

Abbrev

sinergi

Publisher

Subject

Civil Engineering, Building, Construction & Architecture Control & Systems Engineering Electrical & Electronics Engineering Engineering Industrial & Manufacturing Engineering

Description

SINERGI is a peer-reviewed international journal published three times a year in February, June, and October. The journal is published by Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Mercu Buana. Each publication contains articles comprising high quality theoretical and empirical original research papers, ...