The development of bio-jet fuel from coconut oil by the National Research and Innovation Agency (BRIN) aims not only to reduce carbon emissions but also to support a circular economy.
According to Deliana Dahnum, Senior Researcher at the BRIN Research Center for Chemistry, coconuts that are not suitable for export are usually discarded. By utilizing it for bio-jet fuel, BRIN is not only addressing waste management but also empower local communities. Deliana explained that various collaborations have been carried out, including with Pertamina University and Prasetiya Mulya University. These collaborations aim to make catalyst technology more affordable and accessible for the community while ensuring its effectiveness through further research and testing.
They are developing innovative technology in the form of Metal-Organic Frameworks (MOFs)-based catalysts to convert coconut oil into bio-jet fuel. The analysis results show that coconut oil has a composition that is almost similar to commercial jet fuel. Currently, BRIN is still in the testing phase to ensure that the quality of the produced bio-jet fuel meets commercial standards. She also hopes that the results of this research can be used to process other raw materials, such as side products (waste) from palm oil, thereby expanding the positive impact of this technology.