PALMOILMAGAZINE, BOGOR — Three students from the Department of Physics at IPB University have proven that oil palm waste can be transformed into high-value, eco-friendly products. Pristy Tasya Nabila, Salsabilla Permata Bayah, and Annisa Nur Azahra successfully developed an environmentally friendly acoustic panel made from oil palm trunks and empty fruit bunches (EFB).
The idea emerged after the team visited several palm oil plantations in Kalimantan. “We saw firsthand how massive the palm oil industry’s impact is in Indonesia—especially the volume of waste it generates, from trunks to empty bunches,” said Pristy, as quoted by Palmoilmagazine.com from IPB University, Monday (Sept 29, 2025).
Motivated by this observation, the trio designed a simple yet effective innovation. The palm trunks were dried and ground into powder, while the EFB were cut into fibers. Both materials were then mixed with tapioca flour as a natural adhesive, molded, and oven-dried. “We chose tapioca flour because it’s natural, widely available, and its starch content works effectively as a binder,” Annisa explained.
Laboratory tests showed that the acoustic panel — named Trangton — achieved a sound absorption coefficient of 0.8, or 80 percent, comparable to commercial-grade acoustic panels. “Our product isn’t just eco-friendly; its performance rivals industrial panels and can even reduce noise levels by up to 21 percent,” said Salsabilla.
The success of Trangton extended beyond the lab. The innovation earned the IPB team First Place and Best Presentation Award at the International Oil Palm Trunk Product Design Competition 2025, marking a major step toward potential commercialization.
However, challenges remain — particularly in transporting bulky palm trunks. “One solution is to dry the trunks directly at the plantation site to make them lighter before shipping. The process is simple, but the results are impressive,” Pristy added.
The team remains optimistic that Trangton could reach a wider market with the support of investors and industry partners. Their vision is to turn palm oil waste — which often goes unused — into high-value, sustainable acoustic panels that contribute to a greener future. (P2)
