Waste Awareness Campaign: ULM M2ReG Research Group Showcases Water Treatment Technology
Banjarbaru – The ASTA Campus and School activities in the context of the waste awareness movement campaign on Saturday (15/3/2025) at the ULM Banjarbaru Campus Auditorium became an important moment for the Chemical Engineering Study Program together with other study programs at the University of Lambung Mangkurat (ULM) to showcase their research products, namely AFILM2 ReG which is part of the Materials and Membranes Research Group (M2ReG).
The Materials and Membranes Research Group (M2ReG) is a research group that focuses on the development of materials and membrane technology based on wetland environments for water and wastewater treatment. This group was founded by Prof. Muthia Elma, Professor in the Chemical Engineering Study Program, Faculty of Engineering, ULM. Initially, this group was only filled by students of the Chemical Engineering Study Program, but now it also involves students from other study programs at ULM, both from undergraduate, postgraduate, and doctoral levels, even from other campuses who are interested in researching in the field of materials or membrane technology for water or wastewater treatment.
According to one of the M2ReG members, Zikri (a student of the ULM Chemical Engineering Study Program), the creation of the AFILM2REG technology took about two years. This technology uses several materials to clean dirty water, such as activated carbon, sand, membranes, and UV technology that functions to kill bacteria. The benefits of this technology have been felt by the wider community, such as in the 2024 Student Creativity Program-Exact Research (PKM-RE) for the processing of South Kalimantan peat water using Hollow Fiber PVDF membranes with the addition of Spent Bleaching Earth waste additives based on Distillation Membranes, as well as community service in the 2nd Year Palm Oil Research Grant, namely the development of Bench Scale Membranes for nutrient recovery and recycling of POME wastewater as process water.
Prof. Muthia Elma explained that M2ReG aims to develop innovative solutions in environmentally friendly and sustainable water and wastewater treatment. “We are committed to continuing to conduct research and develop technology that can provide real benefits to the community, especially in terms of clean water treatment and waste management,” said Prof. Muthia.
The ASTA Campus and School activities are also a place for students to interact and share knowledge with the community and raise awareness of the importance of waste and environmental management. In addition, this event is expected to encourage collaboration between various study programs at ULM in developing research and innovation that is beneficial to the community.
With the M2ReG Research Group, it is hoped that ULM can continue to contribute to the development of technology that supports environmental sustainability and community welfare. “We hope that the results of the research we develop can be implemented widely and have a positive impact on the environment and society,” added Zikri.
