Utilization of pineapple peels, rice-washed water, and local microorganisms derived from golden snails in biodrying process of yard waste

¹ Department of Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, Universitas Andalas Kampus Limau Manis, Padang 25163, Indonesia
² Start Up Company PT Comestoarra Bentarra Noesantarra (Comestoarra.com), Wisma Monex Lt. 9 Jl. Asia Afrika No. 133-137, Bandung 40112, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: fgoembira@eng.unand.ac.id

Abstract

Comestoarra.com developed Teknologi Olah Sampah di Sumber (TOSS), an on-site solid waste processing method, which efficiently converted yard waste, specifically leaves and twigs, into biomass pellets through three steps: shredding, biodrying, and pelletization. During biodrying, bioactivators expedited moisture reduction. A comparative study was conducted between Comestoarra’s AR124 bioactivator and an alternative, MOL, derived from pineapple peels, rice-washed water, and golden snails, with the first two being waste materials and the latter a rice field pest. To assess their performance in converting yard waste into refuse-derived fuel (RDF), various parameters were analyzed: moisture content, volatile matter, ash content, fixed carbon content, and calorific value. The Indonesian Standard SNI 8966:2021 for RDF in power plants served as reference criteria. Both bioactivators met these standards. AR124-produced RDF had 8.0±0.0% moisture, 65.0±1.0% volatile matter, 13.7±4.9% ash, 13.3±4.2% fixed carbon, and calorific value of 14.74±1.3MJ/kg (3,523±310.7 kcal/kg). MOL bioactivator resulted in RDF with 5.0±0.0% moisture, 65.0±1.0% volatile matter, 16.7±4.2% ash, 13.3±4.2% fixed carbon, and calorific value of 13.89±1.1MJ/kg (3,320±262.9 kcal/kg). These findings suggest that MOL holds promise as a bioactivator for improving the biodrying process in RDF production.