Semarang – The Industrial Chemical Engineering Technology (TRKI) study program at the Vocational School of Diponegoro University continues to demonstrate its innovation in developing local resource potential. One of the latest flagship projects is the production of liquid glucose based on sago starch, initiated by TRKI lecturer Mohamad Endy Julianto, S.T., M.T., along with his students, Malika Pintanada Kaladinanty (Malika) and Abitha Mona Wisya (Abitha). For your information, Indonesia, as the world’s largest producer of sago, has sago land covering 1.25 million hectares, or 51% of the total global sago land area. Sago can produce 25 tons of dry starch per hectare, which is much higher than rice (6 tons) and corn (5.5 tons). The simple and economical sago cultivation technology adds superior value to this commodity, making it an ideal raw material for derivative products like liquid glucose.
On this occasion, Malika stated that liquid glucose is currently produced primarily from cassava and corn. This product has many benefits, including serving as a substitute for granulated sugar in the confectionery, beverage, and biscuit industries. “The domestic demand for liquid glucose is only 60% met, and we still rely on imports for up to 112,396 kg, which indicates significant potential for developing local product-based products,” Malika stated. Meanwhile, Abitha added that liquid glucose can be produced thru the hydrolysis of starch, either by enzymatic or acid methods. Sago starch was the preferred choice due to its high amylopectin content and low protein and fat levels. “These factors make sago starch suitable for the hydrolysis process without producing Maillard reactions that cause browning in liquid glucose,” said Abitha.
Furthermore, Endy explained the potential use of tubular membrane reactors in the enzymatic hydrolysis process. “The enzymatic process has a high conversion rate of up to 97% and is more energy-efficient because it operates at low temperatures,” he said. This method is also environmentally friendly because it doesn’t require additional chemicals, so it doesn’t produce salt deposits. Another advantage of membrane reactors is their ability to combine enzymatic saccharification with particle separation. The enzyme used can be recycled, and inhibitors of the reaction can be removed thru the membrane simultaneously, thus increasing the efficiency of the process. Endy concluded that this technology could be a strategic solution to enhance the nation’s self-sufficiency in meeting liquid glucose needs and support the diversification of sago-based products. “With process modifications and optimal reaction settings, this technology holds great promise for industrial-scale implementation,” he said.
Thru this innovation, the TRKI SV UNDIP Study Program is committed to continuously promoting relevant research that supports the advancement of local resource-based industries, and to making a real contribution in line with UNDIP’s tagline of Dignified and Beneficial.