Universitas Andalas Students Develop Antibacterial Water Filter from Areca Waste in Support of SDG 6 and SDG 12

Universitas Andalas students have developed an environmentally friendly antibacterial water filtration membrane made from areca fiber waste, highlighting the university’s contribution to sustainable innovation in clean water technology. This initiative is closely related to SDG 6 on Clean Water and Sanitation and SDG 12 on Responsible Consumption and Production, as it offers a practical solution to water quality challenges while promoting the productive use of agricultural waste.

The innovation was developed by a student team consisting of Laila Rahmawati, Syalki Habib Akbar, Nova Ramadhani, and Fatimah Syahril under the supervision of Daimon Syukri. The research was conducted within the framework of the Student Creativity Program in Exact Research at the Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Andalas, and has been underway since mid-2025.

In this project, the team utilized areca fiber waste as the main raw material because of its high cellulose content and its abundant availability in the local area. Although widely found in West Sumatra, the material has not yet been optimally utilized. Through this research, the students sought to transform the waste into a value-added product with direct benefits for the wider community.

The production process involved a series of chemical treatments, including delignification, bleaching, acid hydrolysis, and acetylation, to produce cellulose acetate. The material was then combined with Fe₃O₄ nanoparticles, which are known to have adsorption and antibacterial properties. Through this approach, the team succeeded in creating a membrane designed to improve water filtration performance while remaining environmentally friendly.

Laboratory testing showed promising results. The membrane, composed of cellulose acetate and nano-Fe₃O₄ at an addition level of 0.25 to 0.5 percent, was reported to reduce coliform bacteria by around 95 percent. This result indicates the potential of the innovation to be developed further as an alternative water filtration technology that is both effective and sustainable.

In addition to its technical performance, the innovation also reflects the principles of a circular economy. By converting areca waste into a useful filtration product, the research demonstrates how local resources can be processed into solutions with environmental and social value. The students also noted that West Sumatra is one of Indonesia’s major areca-producing regions, making the development of this technology especially relevant to local potential.

Looking ahead, the team sees broader opportunities for the application of this membrane, not only for household water filtration but also for wastewater treatment if the technology continues to be refined. They also plan to improve the membrane’s structural strength so that it can be applied more widely outside the laboratory.

This innovation shows that student research at Universitas Andalas is not only generating academic outcomes, but also producing concrete solutions to environmental challenges. Through the development of an antibacterial water filter from areca waste, Universitas Andalas continues to strengthen its role in encouraging science-based innovation that supports sustainability and community well-being.