Two DOST-FPRDI engineers who recently completed their MS degrees had obtained encouraging research results from their respective theses.
Engr. Rogelio O. Rantael of the Bio-Energy and Equipment Development Section (BEEDS) studied the invasive plant species, spiked pepper (Piper aduncum L.), as a possible material for renewable energy.
According to Engr. Rantael, “It is important to find uses for seriously invasive plants like spiked pepper because they are ecological pests that destroy the natural ecosystem of areas where they grow. My study – which is a first attempt - showed that it is technically, financially and environmentally sound to turn spiked pepper wood into biomass fuel thru the process of gasification. The fuel produced can be used to supply electricity to remote communities in the country.”
Engr. Gil B. Sapin of the Physics and Mechanics Section (PMS), on the other hand, studied if a waste material, the peduncle of dried saba banana (Musa paradiciaca), could be made into a composite panel. (Peduncle refers to the main stalk which holds the banana bunch to the plant). After upgrading the strength and thermal properties of the peduncle fibers, he was able to come up with boards that – with some more improvement - may be used as thermal insulation panels for the construction industry.
Engr. Rantael finished his MS in Chemical Engineering at UP Los Banos, while Engr. Sapin received his MS in Material Science and Engineering from UP Diliman. Likewise, another DOST-FPRDI researcher, Ms. Rowena E. Ramos, completed her MS in Molecular Biology at UP Los Banos. (Rizalina K. Araral, August 14, 2018)
