Judul: Potensi Silika sebagai Bahan Baku Pupuk dari Ekstrak Abu Sekam Padi Menggunakan Pelarut Teknis.
Abstrak: Salah satu komponen utama abu sekam padi ialah silika, yang dapat digunakan sebagai bahan baku pupuk. Silika dari abu sekam padi diekstraksi dengan pelarut alkalis, yakni NaOH teknis 4%b/v. Sampel abu diekstraksi menggunakan ragam suhu (25, 50, dan 70 ˚C) dan waktu ekstraksi (1, 2, dan 3 jam). Pencirian fisik silika meliputi analisis ukuran partikel, densitas, derajat kristalinitas, dan gugus fungsi. Berdasarkan percobaan, pelarut teknis berpengaruh pada kualitas silika. Rendemen dipengaruhi oleh suhu dan waktu ekstraksi. Rendemen silika tertinggi (67.2%) diperoleh pada suhu 70 ˚C selama 3 jam. Silika yang diperoleh menghasilkan pengotor Na2O 7.24%. Berdasarkan analisis ukuran partikel, densitas, derajat kristalinitas, dan gugus fungsi berturut-turut 25.1-40.6 nm; 0.6650-0.8120 g/mL; 2θ= 23˚; dan gugus fungsi Si-O-Si asimetrik berada pada bilangan gelombang 1101.68 cm-1. Berdasarkan hasil percobaan, keberadaan pengotor tersebut tidak memengaruhi fase amorf pada silika, mengindikasikan potensi ekstrak abu sekam menggunakan pelarut teknis sebagai bahan baku pupuk pada tanah alkali.
Keyword: ekstraksi silika, pelarut teknis, silika

Judul: Dampak Pelarut Alkali Teknis pada Produksi Silika dari Abu Sekam Padi sebagai Bahan Baku Pupuk
Abstrak: Salah satu komponen utama dalam abu sekam padi adalah silika yang bersifat amorf sehingga cocok untuk bahan baku pupuk. Silika diekstraksi menggunakan pelarut alkali teknis (NaOH) dengan ragam nisbah abu sekam padi terhadap jumlah pelarut alkali teknis (1:6; 1:5; dan 1:4) dan konsentrasi pelarut alkali teknis (1; 0.75; dan 0.50 N). Perolehan rerata rendemen terbesar terdapat pada konsentrasi pelarut alkali teknis 1 N dengan nisbah 1:6, yaitu 62.83%. Ciri fisik silika dari abu sekam padi yang meliputi derajat putih (93.24-96.66%), kadar air (0.49-2.81%), dan densitas (0.5634-0.9496 g/mL) menunjukkan bahwa penggunaan pelarut alkali teknis cenderung menurunkan kemurnian silika yang dibuktikan pula dengan terdapatnya kontaminan mayor berupa Na dan Cl serta unsur-unsur lain melalui uji Scanning Electron Microscope-Energy Dispersive Xray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX), X-Ray Fluoresence (XRF), dan X-Ray Diffraction (XRD). Pada tanah salin, keberadaan kontaminan dalam silika dengan fase amorf (2θ = 22.29°) terutama Na dan Cl tidak berdampak negatif jika digunakan sebagai bahan baku pupuk.
Keyword: abu sekam padi, larutan alkali teknis, pupuk, silika

Judul: Thermal Characteristics and Dynamics of Tropical Cyclone over Western North Pacific Ocean: A Case Study of Typhoon Songda (Chedeng) 2011
Abstrak: The frequent occasion of Tropical Cyclone (TC) over Western North Pacific (WNP) Ocean lies from 10˚N to 26˚N and 121˚E to 170˚E. Sources of TC development come from warm ocean temperature where latent heat is released during condensation processes and subsequently concentrated in the boundary layer. Relative humidity at 850-700 hPa is responsible to produce the most intense storm. Meanwhile, weak vertical wind shear between 850-200 hPa is one of the dynamical factors that lead to the development of TC. Pressure level of 850-200 hPa is chosen to minimize the thermodynamic effect in the lower troposphere. Typhoon Songda (Chedeng in the Philippines) or TSC lasted from May 18th to 30th, 2011 and strengthened into powerful Super Typhoon stage between May 24th and 27th. Long curving track and the exhibition of all sequences of TC life cycle, TSC is then considered as an ideal case of TC. The objective of the study with case of TSC is to investigate the role of thermal characteristics and dynamics on TC intensity. The research is carried out by using Advanced Research of Weather Research and Forecasting model (WRF ARW model) version 3.3. Two domains are employed in the model. The first domain situate from 02˚N to 40˚N and 118˚E to 149˚E and cover spatial resolution () of 33.1 km. The second domain situate from 09˚N to 27˚N and 119˚E to 132˚E with of 11 km. Timestep of the model () is 120 seconds. The model is supported by the following physical parameterization, i.e., Yonsei University Scheme (YSU) in the boundary layer, Kain-Fritsch scheme (KF) in the cumulus, and WRF Single-Moment 3-class scheme in the microphysics. Initial meteorological condition prior to the formation of the cyclone is generated using WRF ARW standard-release model. Sensitivity of the model output is obtained from a selected single-parameter change scenarios, namely, 10 % to 20 % decrease and increase of wind shear initial data at 850-200 hPa, and by 10 % to 20 % decrease of relative humidity initial data at 850-700 hPa. The result showed that the negative correlations between wind shear and intensity are found in wind shear scenarios. Wind shears of 10 ms-1 which lead to strengthening of the wind intensity in the early period of Typhoon development are found in wind shear scenarios. The effect of wind shear changes on wind intensity is statistically significant in the 20 % wind shear scenarios. During mature stage, weak wind intensity occurred when wind shear increase as given in the WRF standard-release and the 20 % decreasing scenario. Different situation is found in the 20 % increasing scenario where wind shear tend to weak and lead to strong wind intensity at this stage. Meanwhile, the reduction of moisture supply at 850-700 hPa resulting from 20 % decreasing relative humidity play a major role in the weakening of wind intensity and reduces mechanical energy of the cycle process as much as 300 J kg-1.
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