Winners of the 1st STCIEERD Research Summit receiving their certificate of recognition
on stage (Engr. Sheryl D. Fenol (Center). Photo Credits to DOST-CALABARZON
by JLB Herrera
Engr. Sheryl D. Fenol, a Research and Extension (R&E) team member of Sugar Palm Research, Information, and Trade (SPRINT) Center presented her research on 'Activated Carbon from Sugar Palm (Arenga pinnata) Waste Products' and consequently won the 1st place in the best poster category during the 1st Southern Tagalog Consortium for Industry, Energy and Emerging Technology Research and Development (STCIEERD) Research Summit last November 28-29, 2023 at Batangas State University- the National Engineering University - Pablo Borbon Campus. This year's theme was “Harnessing the Power of Emerging Technologies for Economic Growth and Social Impact”.
The two-day summit promoted interdisciplinary collaboration among industries, academia, research institutions, and government agencies by bringing them together and enabling the exchange of ideas and expertise. It also provided an opportunity for member institutions to showcase their innovative technologies, products, and services.
The research on Activated Carbon from Sugar Palm (Arenga pinnata) Waste Products was authored by Engr. Fenol, Dr. Lorenzo C. Lapitan, Jr., Mr. Jhon Laurence B. Herrera and Mr. Daeniel Zarene P. Mojica. Aimed to produce activated carbon out of kaong waste products specifically from fiber and husks, the results of the study reveal that it has a surface area of 2,000 to 3,000 m2/g that can compete with the commercially available activated carbon with only 900-2,000 m2/g surface area. In addition, activated carbon produced from kaong fiber and husks has 0% moisture and yields no oil in water making the sugar palm activated carbon a useful material for air and water filters.