Valorization of Rambutan Peel as Adsorbent for Tempeh Wastewater

Tempeh is one of Indonesia traditional foods which made from fermentation processed soybean. There is wastewater from tempeh production that usually wasted to the river without further treatment. One of the parameters for wastewater is chemical oxygen demand (COD). Higher COD correlated to the higher risk to the environment. To decrease the COD level of tempeh wastewater valorization rambutan peels as adsorbent was done. The adsorbent was prepared by drying up and powdering rambutan peels. Boehm titration was used to characterize some functional groups of rambutan peels. Optimization of the contact time and the acidity level (pH) was done under room temperature condition. As results, the rambutan peel contains carbocyclic (0,0492%), alkaline functional group (0,0360%), phenol (0,0004%) and lactone (0,0002%).  Besides, the optimal condition for the reaction were at pH 11 for 90 minutes that can reduce COD level from 23.840 mg/L to 10.230 mg/L. 

Ekstraksi Protoporfirin IX dari Kerabang Telur Puyuh (Cortunix Cortunix) dan Kompleksasinya dengan Ni(Ii) Serta Potensinya sebagai Pewarna Kain Alami

Protoporfirin IX merupakan suatu pigmen warna yang terdapat pada kerabang telur puyuh. Karena sifat pewarna alami yang mudah luntur, maka perlu dilakukan kompleksasi dengan ion logam. Peneltian ini bertujuan untuk menentukan kondisi optimum dari reaksi kompleksasi protoporfirin IX dengan ion logam Ni(II) menggunakan Response Surface Methodology (RSM) dengan central composite design 33 model kuadratik yang dimodifikasi. Faktor yang digunakan adalah variasi pH (X1), rasio (X2), dan waktu reaksi (X3). Hasil ekstraksi protoporfirin IX yang telah dilakukan memiliki konsentrasi sebesar 0,01% (b/b) dari ekstrak kering. Hasil serapan kompleks Ni(II)-protoporfirin IX yang didapat menunjukkan adanya pergeseran sebesar 4 nm dari serapan protoporfirin IX dan 9 nm dari serapan larutan Ni(II). Kondisi optimum yang diperoleh adalah pada pH 3,16 ; rasio 1:10,98 ; dan waktu 65,98 menit melalui persamaan polinomial orde 2

Synthetic RNA Silencing of Actinorhodin Biosynthesis in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2)

We demonstrate the first application of synthetic RNA gene silencers in Streptomyces coelicolor A3(2). Peptide nucleic acid and expressed antisense RNA silencers successfully inhibited actinorhodin production. Synthetic RNA silencing was target-specific and is a new tool for gene regulation and metabolic engineering studies in Streptomyces.Peer reviewe

Quaternary Ammonium Compound Disinfectant Efficacy Test on the Patients' Environment in Dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo General Hospital

 The increasing prevalence of hospital-acquired infection continues to be a global concern until today. The purpose of this study is to determine the efficacies of Caviwipe® and 70% alcohol tissue in the prevention of hospital-acquired infection. This experimental study was conducted on 36 equipment samples in dr. Cipto Mangunkusumo Hospital during April–August 2015. A total of 144 surface samples were collected before and after the disinfection process by both the disinfectants. The sample equipment used and placed in the agar plate for a short period of time; the plates were then incubated. The colony numbers of grown bacteria and fungi were calculated. The data were numerically reported as the microbial colony count. Data were analyzed by using SPSS for Windows. Paired t-test was used for the statistical analysis. The mean colony counts before disinfection by 70% alcohol tissue and Caviwipe® were 11.75 and 17.58, respectively. Meanwhile, the average colony counts after disinfection with 70% alcohol tissue and Caviwipe® were 0.138 and 0.222, respectively. Statistical analysis showed no significant difference between the mean of the colony count before and after disinfection with both disinfectants (p>0.05). Separately, a significant difference of colony count between before and after the disinfection process for each disinfectant was seen (p<0.05). The mean reduction in the colony counts after disinfection by both disinfectants indicates that there is no significant difference (p>0.05) in the efficacies between the Caviwipe® and 70% alcohol tissue in reducing the amount of bacteria and fungi present on the surfaces of the equipment placed close to the patients in a hospital environment. &nbsp