February 21, 2025 | 11:11 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The eco-friendly paving block innovation by the Cibubur Labschool High team was awarded a gold medal at the Thailand Inventors' Day 2025 held at the Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC), Thailand, on February 2-6. In addition to the medal, the innovation also received a Special Award from the representative of participants from Malaysia in the same event.
The paving block innovation was developed by the Carboneater Team, offering the ability to absorb carbon dioxide in precast concrete products. "This can be achieved through implementing a material called biochar or biocharcoal," said Ralief Rahatsa Aimar, one of the members of the Carboneater Team, to Tempo on Thursday, February 20, 2025.
As quoted from an article on the National Innovation Research Agency's website (BRIN), biochar is a form of charcoal produced through a specific temperature pyrolysis process with limited oxygen. Usually, this charcoal or carbon is used to improve soil and reduce the loss of nutrients in the soil due to rain through erosion or leaching.
Without biochar, soil fertility can decrease, and nutrients can become pollutants in bodies of water. Biochar can also absorb contaminants in bodies of water (lakes and reservoirs) and be used for sediment capping.
Besides biochar, Ralief explained the paving blocks are made from Portland Cement Composite and Quartz Sand Aggregates. As a result, he claimed, the paving blocks have small pores that let some rainfall seep into the soil and absorb carbon dioxide from urban emission sources, such as vehicles and factories.
"The production process of this product only takes 24 hours, but the research and guidance duration lasts for 4-5 months," said Ralief. He mentioned that the other team members are Athalia Bunga Carissa, Bening Kinanti, Esad Aryasataya Erlangga, Fayha Thalita Jasmine, and Tarisha Kamil Wibowo.
The Carboneater Team from SMA Labschool Cibubur who achieved a gold medal at the Thailand Inventors' Day 2025. Courtesy of the Carboneater Team
Ralief revealed that Thailand Inventors' Day 2025 had provided many valuable lessons for him and the other team members who were participating in an international research competition for the first time. "This experience trained our speaking skills, presentation in public, proper English, teamwork, creativity, and much more," he said.
The Cibubur Labschool High sent six teams to Thailand Inventors' Day 2025, and all teams successfully received awards, including two gold and four silver medals. "This is evidence of hard work and dedication in developing innovations and research," said the Head of Cibubur Labschool High, Ali Chudori.
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