Indonesian Journal of Environmental Management and Sustainability

Comparative Study of Physical Components and Degradability of Natural Fibers as Alternative Biofilm Media for Wastewater Treatment Systems

Andre Massaid — 2026-10-08

This study supports the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) on clean water and sustainable production by evaluating the potential of natural fibers as biofilm media for wastewater treatment. Seven types of media were assessed, including polyurethane sponge as a control, straw, coconut fiber, sugar palm fiber, sphagnum moss, oil palm empty fruit bunch (EFB), and tree fern board. The evaluation was conducted over a 30-day period based on physical characteristics (pore size and porosity) and water quality parameters (pH, TDS, TSS, and COD), complemented by organoleptic observations. Media performance was ranked using the Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS). The results indicated that tree fern board (TOPSIS score 0.833) and sugar palm fiber (TOPSIS score 0.778) were the most promising natural biofilm media, exhibiting porous structures, good physical stability, and consistent biofilm formation, with performance approaching that of the polyurethane sponge. In contrast, straw, EFB, coconut fiber, and sphagnum moss showed lower performance due to rapid degradation or insufficient structural stability, which adversely affected water quality. Overall, this study confirms that tree fern board and sugar palm fiber are viable and sustainable alternatives to synthetic biofilm media, with strong potential for long-term application in environmentally friendly wastewater treatment systems.

The Effect of Parameter Laser Markin and Immersion Time on Laser Marking Quality and Corrosion Rate of Stainless Steel S304LL Grade 2B in Seawater

Hendi Lilih Wijayanto — 2026-10-08

Corrosion is the term for damage to metallic materials brought on by the metal’s contact with its surroundings. This procedure uses high-power laser radiation to create permanent markings while also altering the material’s surface structure. But a material’s vulnerability to corrosion can also be impacted by laser marking, especially when 304L stainless steel is exposed to saltwater. This study aims to identify the laser marking parameters, the impact of immersion time on laser marking quality, and the rate of corrosion of 304L stainless steel in saltwater. This study employed a 90-day immersion period. A laser marking method was used to mark the surface of 304L stainless steel. Quality testing was made possible by analyzing the material’s weight loss following the laser branding procedure. A laser marking method was used to mark the surface of 304L stainless steel. The quality of the laser marking was evaluated by measuring the weight loss of the material following the immersion procedure. The degree of corrosion on the material’s surface is indicated by this weight loss. According to the research results, when the stainless steel surface has corroded, the ideal parameters-Power 10%, Frequency 10 kHz, Speed 500 mm/s, and immersion duration-can impact the quality of laser marking. For example, after 90 days of immersion in seawater, the corrosion rate for 304L stainless steel was 0.000003160 mpy.

The Potential of Marine Yeast and Its Interaction with Mold in Degrading High-Density Polyethylene (HDPE)

Nur Hidayatul Alami — 2026-10-08

Indonesia is one of the countries that contributes significant amounts of plastic waste to coastal environments. High-density polyethylene (HDPE) is a petroleum-based synthetic thermoplastic and the primary source of environmental plastic pollution. The stable aliphatic chains with strong C–C bonds in HDPE render it recalcitrant to microbial degradation. Bioremediation through biodegradation by microorganisms can be an effective and environmentally friendly solution for eliminating HDPE from ecosystems. Several studies have suggested that microbial consortia may enhance plastic biodegradation. However, the effectiveness of marine yeast-mold interactions in HDPE degradation remains poorly understood. This study aimed to evaluate the potential of marine yeast to degrade HDPE and assess its effectiveness when combined with molds for HDPE degradation. The biodegradation experiment was conducted over 30 days using Mineral Salt Medium Broth (MSMB) and plastic sheets. The parameters assessed during biodegradation included degradation effectiveness (%), total count of heterotrophic microorganisms (CFU/mL), and Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) analysis. The results show that marine yeast has the potential to be used alone or in combination with molds. The highest value was achieved by the P2 treatment group in week 4, which consisted of a consortium of marine yeast and mold, with a value of 4.855%. However, this was not significantly different from P1, which consisted of a consortium of marine yeast with a value of 4.17%. The SEM test results indicated biofilm formation in all treatments, suggesting plastic biodegradation activity.

Evaluating Environmental Sustainability Performance through Green Industry Standards in Indonesian Ammonia Production

Mujir Syah Dani — 2026-10-08

The fertilizer industry is a strategic sector that supports global food security. However, the production processes associated with this industry are characterized by high energy consumption and significant greenhouse gas emissions. The present study assesses environmental management and corporate sustainability performance within an integrated ammonia and urea production system based on Green Industry Standard (GIS) indicators. A quantitative descriptive approach was employed, whereby sustainability performance was measured through the use of key performance indicators (KPIs), trend analysis, and benchmarking against national GIS technical requirements. Secondary data from operational records, annual reports, and sustainability reports covering the period of 2021–2024 were analysed. The outcomes demonstrate that economic growth is concomitant with alterations in environmental and economic sustainability performance. Ammonia and urea production increased by 13% and 11.5%, respectively, while natural gas consumption intensity remained relatively stable, with only a 0.15% increase compared with the baseline period. However, greenhouse gas emission intensity exhibited a 35.8% increase compared to the 2021 baseline level, signifying that the effective management of emissions continues to pose a substantial challenge to the pursuit of sustainable industrial performance. From an economic vantage point, the augmentation in production capacity was accompanied by a 19.1% diminution in net profit margin, underscoring the necessity of achieving a balance between operational efficiency and environmental objectives. The findings indicate that Green Industry Standards offer a quantifiable framework for evaluating sustainability performance in energy-intensive fertilizer industries. To this end, there is an imperative for ongoing enhancement in emission reduction strategies, energy efficiency, and operational reliability. Such enhancements are crucial for fortifying environmental management practices and underpinning long-term corporate sustainability.

Sustainable Fabrication of Alkali-Treated Aluminum Foil Using Agricultural Fertilizers for Filter-Free Escherichia coli Removal in Drinking Water

Taufiq Ihsan — 2026-10-08

Microbiological contamination of drinking water by Escherichia coli remains a major public health hazard in resource-limited settings. Conventional adsorptive technologies that utilize powdered materials pose post-treatment recovery challenges, whereas synthesis using analytical-grade chemicals is economically infeasible for point-of-use (POU) applications. Herein, we report a sustainable strategy for fabricating Alkali-Treated Aluminum Foil (ATA foil) as an integrated, filter-free sheet from commercial aluminum foil and agricultural fertilizers (Mg(NO₃)₂ and wood ash extract). The influence of activation duration (6 h vs. 24 h) on phase transformation, surface topography, and bacterial capture performance was systematically investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD) revealed that moderate synthesis pH (9.3) favored the formation of a disordered, amorphous aluminum (oxy)hydroxide active coating rather than crystalline Layered Double Hydroxides (LDH). Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) confirmed that extending activation to 24 h formed an interconnected, porous web across the surface. In batch assays, the 24-h ATA foil achieved a rapid and substantial reduction of culturable E. coli (from 10² CFU/mL to below the detection limit of < 1 CFU/mL, corresponding to > 99% efficiency) within 24 h in both synthetic water and real refill drinking water depot samples. The captured bacteria remained stably immobilized without desorption for up to 168 h. Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS) confirmed non-detectable dissolved aluminum leaching (< 0.01 mg/L), complying strictly with WHO and national drinking water standards (0.2 mg/L). This study highlights the ATA foil as a safe, cost-effective, and filter-free POU alternative for decentralized drinking water safety.

Assessing Climate Village Program Sustainability Using Multidimensional Scaling

Nila Ayu Setiyorini — 2026-10-08

Climate change poses severe threats to rural socio ecological systems, necessitating decentralized, community based climate action. While Indonesia’s Climate Village Program (ProKlim) serves as a primary local adaptation and mitigation policy, conventional evaluative methods rely heavily on descriptive scorecards, obscuring multidimensional dynamics and the systemic role of stakeholder partnerships. This study addresses these gaps by implementing an integrated evaluation framework that combines Sustainability Transition Theory, Collaborative Governance, and Multidimensional Scaling (MDS) via the modified Rapfish technique. We assessed 20 validated attributes across institutional, social, economic, and environmental dimensions using perceptual data from 30 systematically selected stakeholders involved in the Pentahelix partnership model in Wonocoyo Village, Trenggalek Regency. The multidimensional sustainability index scored 58.36 (moderately sustainable). At the dimensional level, institutional governance achieved the highest score (77.23, highly sustainable), followed by environmental quality (67.65) and social dynamics (52.14). Conversely, the economic dimension recorded a less sustainable score (36.42), reflecting systemic barriers in converting ecological actions into tangible financial welfare. Leverage analysis highlighted program monitoring and evaluation, community mutual cooperation (gotong royong), local economic benefits, and the continuity of environmental initiatives as critical anchor attributes. Goodness of fit metrics (Stress = 0.15 - 0.16; R2 = 0.90 - 0.93) and Monte Carlo simulations confirmed model stability. These findings establish that high institutional capability alone cannot guarantee localized socio ecological transformations without explicit economic feedback loops, offering scalable governance insights for national decentralized climate targets.

Entrepreneurship-Based Green Finance Model: Optimizing the Role of Regional-Owned Enterprises (BUMD) in Achieving Jakarta’s Net Zero Emission 2060 Target

Syarief Gerald Prasetya — 2026-10-08

This study aims to examine and analyze the effects of willingness to innovate, proactive attitude, and risk-taking propensity on green finance and sustainability performance among Regional-Owned Enterprises (BUMD) in DKI Jakarta. The research employs a quantitative method using Structural Equation Modeling with Partial Least Squares (SEM-PLS) analysis, based on primary survey data collected from 23 BUMDs in Jakarta in 2025. The findings reveal that willingness to innovate and proactive attitude positively contribute to strengthening green finance; however, only the proactive attitude consistently enhances sustainability performance. Conversely, the willingness to take risks shows a negative effect on green finance and an insignificant impact on sustainability performance. Furthermore, green finance exerts a positive, though not yet significant, influence on sustainability performance. These findings underscore the need for operational strategies such as strengthening green innovation, establishing sustainability teams, implementing green risk management, and developing sustainability reports as integral components of transparent and accountable governance. Such strategies are essential to reinforce the strategic role of BUMDs in supporting the transition toward a green economy and achieving Jakarta’s Net Zero Emission 2060 target.

Beyond Linear Regression: A Non-Linear Hygroscopic Growth Correction for Satellite-Derived PM2.5 Estimation in Tropical Environments

Lasmita Sari — 2026-10-08

Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) estimation from satellite-derived Aerosol Optical Depth (AOD) is often biased in humid tropical environments because aerosol water uptake enhances optical extinction without a corresponding increase in dry particulate mass. This study develops a physics-informed, non-linear AOD-to-PM_2.5 conversion framework that explicitly accounts for hygroscopic growth. Four years (2020–2023; N = 1.456 daily observations) of AOD, PM_2.5, and relative humidity (RH) data from the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service (CAMS) global reanalysis over Jakarta, Indonesia, were used to quantify humidity-dependent bias and estimate an empirical hygroscopic exponent (gamma). The conventional linear model showed systematic overestimation under high-humidity conditions (RH > 80%), with a mean positive bias of 18.7 µgm^-3. Incorporating the hygroscopic correction yielded gamma = 0.68 ± 0.04, increased R² from 0.52 to 0.84, and reduced RMSE from 15.8 to 8.7 µgm^-3. The estimated gamma remained stable across seasonal subsets, data-availability scenarios, and quality control thresholds and was consistent with reported values for urban-industrial aerosols. These results demonstrate that explicitly representing aerosol hygroscopicity can substantially improve AOD-based PM_2.5 estimation in humid tropical environments. Although calibrated using CAMS reanalysis over Jakarta, the framework provides a physically interpretable and reproducible approach that can be applied to other regions after appropriate local recalibration.

Upgrading Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Bio Oil via Catalytic Hydrodeoxygenation Using Nickel Impregnated Activated Carbon and Natural Zeolite Catalysts

Rina Novia Yanti — 2026-10-08

Biomass is a promising alternative energy feedstock because of its cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin content and its availability as an agricultural and plantation residue. Pyrolysis can convert biomass into bio-oil, a complex liquid containing oxygenated compounds such as ketones, acids, phenols, alcohols, aldehydes, and hydrocarbons. This study evaluates the upgrading of crude bio oil (CBO) derived from oil palm empty fruit bunches (EFB) using nickel impregnated activated natural zeolite (ZAA/Ni) and nickel-impregnated activated carbon (AA/Ni) catalysts under hydrodeoxygenation (HDO) conditions. The physicochemical properties and available GCMS results were compared descriptively before and after upgrading. After correction of the compound classifications and recalculation from the listed GCMS peaks, the hydrocarbon peak-area totals were 20.59% for CBO, 20.36% for ZAA/Ni, and 26.66% for AA/Ni. The AA/Ni-treated bio oilshowed an increase in higher heating value (HHV) from 39.13 to 40.27 MJ/kg. Because the original chromatograms and independent replicate measurements were unavailable for this revision, the GCMS results are interpreted as semi quantitative, and the numerical differences are not presented as statistically significant. Overall, AA/Ni showed the more favorable combination of oxygen removal and HHV improvement under the tested conditions, although the increased viscosity indicates that further stabilization or fractionation would be required before considering diesel-equivalent applications.

Comparative Evaluation of Activated Sludge, Biogrow Biofilm, and Hybrid Systems for the Removal of Pollutans from Shrimp Pond Wastewater

Grace Felicyta — 2026-10-08

Litopenaeus vannamei shrimp farming is a segment of aquaculture with significant economic potential. However, the wastewater produced during this process contains various pollutants, including salinity, phosphate, hydrogen sulfide, ammonia, nitrate, and nitrite. If it is discharged untreated, these pollutants can contribute to environmental pollution. This study aimed to compare the effectiveness of activated sludge, Biogrow, and a combination of both systems in reducing pollutant concentrations in shrimp pond wastewater. The experiment was conducted over 8 days in a batch system using Greenbio 1103 bacterial resin. Physical and chemical characteristics of the wastewater were analyzed on days 0, 2, 4, 6, and 8. Data were analyzed using Two-Way ANOVA, followed by Tukey’s post-hoc test. The results indicated a significant interaction (p < 0.05) between treatment duration and treatment media in reducing ammonia, COD, phosphate, and TSS concentrations. Among the systems tested, the Biogrow medium exhibited the highest treatment efficiency, achieving removal rates of 99.5% for ammonia (from 15.18 to 0.079 mg/L), 57.1% for COD (from 1402.9 to 601.7 mg/L), 93.8% for phosphate (from 1.27 to 0.079 mg/L), and 42.9% for TSS (from 980 to 560 mg/L). In comparison, activated sludge alone achieved lower removal rates: 87.2% for ammonia, 45.4% for COD, 91.9% for phosphate, and 24.5% for TSS. The enhanced performance of Biogrow was attributed to its large specific surface area, which facilitated bacterial attachment and supported the development of a stable biofilm structure.

Decentralized Governance in Industrial Estates: The Role of Internal Environmental Monitoring Units

Hadiyan Yusra Sulistyo — 2026-10-08

The rapid concentration of manufacturing activities within centralized industrial zones yields critical macroeconomic advantages but escalates localized environmental degradation. Under the Indonesian regulatory framework, tenants operating inside industrial estates are legally mandated to execute a site-specific Environmental Management and Monitoring Plan. In practice, structural enforcement gaps within public environmental agencies necessitate an intermediary layer of internal oversight. This study empirically examines the operational role of the Environmental Monitoring Unit at PT Surabaya Industrial Estate Rungkut (SIER) and its association with tenant compliance. Employing a quantitative survey methodology with 40 operational tenants (N = 40), primary data were analyzed through descriptive statistics, classical assumption verification, and simple linear regression modeling. Descriptive indices reveal that the monitoring unit’s operational role is perceived as high (mean = 4.18), while the overall effectiveness of environmental implementation is exceptionally high (mean = 4.45). Inferential modeling confirms that the monitoring unit exerts a statistically significant positive association with implementation quality (Y = 23.237 + 0.520X; p = 0.000), accounting for 41.5% of compliance variance. Grounded conceptually in systems ecology, this paper explores how internal monitoring units can function as regulatory feedback loops. Future studies are encouraged to utilize larger samples and actual pollutant reduction data to validate these findings.