Professor Dr. Ni Nyoman Tri Puspaningsih, M.Si., along with her team at Universitas Airlangga (UNAIR), has developed an environmentally friendly product called Excelzyme, which is set to be commercialized with the support of PT Petrosida Gresik. The collaboration was formally agreed upon on Wednesday, March 8, 2017, at the UNAIR campus management meeting.

Excelzyme, a trademarked name, is based on enzymes discovered by Prof. Nyoman and her colleagues, which are highly versatile. These enzymes, part of a consortium, effectively maximize agricultural waste rich in lignocellulose.

Importantly, the raw materials for Excelzyme are sourced from abundant natural resources in Indonesia. This underscores Prof. Nyoman’s and her team’s commitment to maximizing Indonesia’s potential.

Prof. Nyoman stated that the research on Excelzyme began in the 1990s, with a focused effort starting around 1999 and continuing to the present day. By 2007, commercialization efforts began, albeit on a limited scale. Patents for the formulation of the product were issued in 2011, followed by the production formula patent in 2016. The development of this formula has spanned over 17 years.

Excelzyme currently exists in four variants: Excelzyme 1 (for deinking paper recycling), Excelzyme 2 (for organic livestock feed production), Excelzyme 3 (for organic fertilizer production), and Excelzyme 4 (under development for lignin reduction in wood-based paper or wood industries).

“Excelzyme aims to contribute to environmentally friendly industries. With our products, the use of chemicals for various purposes can be minimized,” explained Prof. Nyoman.

The paper recycling process typically requires significant chemical input, resulting in harmful waste. Excelzyme reduces chemical usage while maximizing recycling efficiency.

Through this innovative application, Indonesia can gradually reduce its reliance on imported enzymes. Prof. Nyoman noted that enzymes with similar functions to Excelzyme can cost between IDR 150,000 to 200,000 per kilogram. In contrast, domestically produced Excelzyme is significantly more affordable.

This achievement signifies a step towards national self-reliance in this field, albeit requiring a sustained effort. The abundant natural resources of Indonesia offer ample opportunities for national prosperity and sustainability.

“We urge both academic institutions and private sectors with a vision for national self-reliance to prioritize long-term, consistent research efforts that demonstrate tangible results,” emphasized Prof. Nyoman.

The initiative has garnered appreciation from various quarters, including Dr. Eng. Hotmatua Daulay, M.Eng., Director of Industrial Technology Development at the Ministry of Research, Technology, and Higher Education (Kemenristekdikti), who praised UNAIR’s success in transforming research into products beneficial to industry and society.

Hery Widyatmoko, CEO of PT Petrosida Gresik, expressed confidence that Excelzyme will make a significant impact in society, bolstering national self-reliance. UNAIR’s commitment to creating impactful ideas and concepts for the community was reiterated by Prof. Dr. M. Nasih, S.E., M.T., Ak., UNAIR’s Rector.

Source: Excelzyme, Produk Ramah Lingkungan yang Siap Dukung Kemandirian Bangsa – Unair News