We proudly present this month’s Majari Special Edition: All About Coal. The series of articles published in June 2008 will mainly discuss about coal technology; including its theory of origin, current coal processing technology, and also the future development of coal utilization as clean and environmentally-friendly fuel. Futhermore, we will deliver you some Op-Ed articles about coal utilization in Indonesia as well; and we are really interested in your comments to the issues.

With several guest contributors who will elaborately share their knowledge, this month at Majari, you will have a comphrehensive understanding about coal combustion, fluidization, liqufaction, gasification, carbonization, and even the lab-work characterization. There is also some review about current coal breakthrough technology such as coal-bed methane (CBM), coal-water mixture fuel (CWM), coal-oil mixture fuel (COM), crude synthetic oil from coal (CSO), integrated coal gasification combined cycle (IGCC), and biogasification.

We really look forward to hearing your comments and suggestions.

See you in the next Majari Special Edition!

Salam Majari Kanayakan.

And anyway, here is a brief interview with him.

Majari: “Hi, Sesep! Congratulations for being the January’s Author of The Month! Any surprise?”
Sesep: “Oh yeah?? Of course I am glad and I appreciate it very much..”

Majari: “Yes, you are. You article has made a lot of traffic until now. It’s one of most favorite article in Majari last month. Anyway, can you tell us once more, what was the final conclusion of your opinion about slow Pertamina growth compared to Malaysia’s Petronas?”
Sesep: “OK, I’ll try to answer this briefly. Basically there are technical and non-technical problems that influence the slow growth of Pertamina compared to Malaysia’s Petronas. I am not capable of answering the details about the negative sides of Pertamina but I think the government should cooperate well with Pertamina to help them solving their problems. We are as Indonesian people can also participate in many ways to help Pertamina.”

Majari: “So, what do you mean with the terms technical and non-technical problems? Are the uncooperative government regulations included in the non-technical problems?”
Sesep: “OK, maybe examples could make it clear. According to the source that I read, the profit sharing between Pertamina and the Indonesian government is 10:90; 10% for Pertamina and 90% for the government. The average yearly profit of Pertamina is about 27 billion rupiahs and only 2.7 billion goes to Pertamina. And, this is one simple example, do you know that they need at least 13 billion rupiahs to build a new refinery? And let’s do the math: they can only build a new refinery once in 5 years if they use all of the profits. That’s the technical problem, this is contrary to Malaysia’s Petronas because only 10% of their profit that goes to the Malaysian government. And about the non-technical problems; one of non-technical problem is BP MIGAS. BP MIGAS is starting to give trusts to foreign oil and gas companies to manage the fields in Indonesia. We can see ExxonMobil is managing the Cepu Block (oilfield) and BP is managing the Tangguh Field (gas field). And why are they doing that? Well, it will be a very long argument if we discuss about their reasons. Take a look at my article and you will know why.”

Majari: “That’s very interesting. But don’t you think that the problem is way too complex? And can you think of any other factors beside profit-sharing and BP MIGAS trust that has been influencing the slow growth of Pertamina?”
Sesep: “Do you mean the corruption activity like most of the people and media say?”

Majari: “Exactly, doesn’t it make everything worse if they conduct any corruption activities while the profit is already small in amount?”
Sesep: “Hahaha, you naked me straight to the point. It’s true I guess, everyone knows that corruption sucks. But again, it’s not my capability to explain that in details.”

Majari: “Yes, maybe just let us hand the problem to whom it may concern. Hehehe.. And, you’ve mentioned that we, as Indonesian citizens, can also help Pertamina to grow. So, can you tell us some examples that we can do?”
Sesep: “Nice question.. Ideally, we can be Pertamina’s employee and work there with the motivation to help Pertamina. But it doesn’t mean that we will not be able to help Pertamina if we aren’t their employee. One example is to try preferring Pertamina’s products to others or go to Pertamina’s Gas Stations to fill the gas for our cars and motorcycles. It is very simple but helpful.”

Majari: “Hmm.. that’s a good point. And what do you think about Pertamina in the future? Will they be better?”
Sesep: “I hope so.. If they can take care of their problems, they will be better. The government and BP MIGAS should also support Pertamina to solve all the problems there. I myself will be proud if Pertamina can improve their capability. Will you?”

Majari: “Definitely, we all should be proud of our own products and services, including Pertamina. And about the prize, what will you do about that?”
Sesep: “Are there any prizes?? Hahhaha, just kidding.. Hmm.. don’t even think about that yet. Watching movies, food hunting, etc. Just like everyone does to have fun, I guess. Hehehe. ”

Majari: “Yeah right! We guess there is zero probability that you forgot about the prize. Hahaha.. Anyway, Thank you for your time, Sesep! Hope to read another interesting articles from you! Any info about you next article?”
Sesep: “My next article?? Hmmm, it’s confidential.. Hahaha, just wait for my surprise.. Ok, thanks for majarikanayakan.com and also the commentators in my article. I really appreciate you all very much. Big sucess for majarikanayakan.com!”

Congratulations, Sesep! And is it today the Chinese’s new year? It must be really great to have angpou even if you are not celebrating the new year at all.

And, whose turn next? Submit your articles and let the comments flow!

Salam Majari Kanayakan.

And anyway, here is a brief interview with him.

Majari: “Hi, Wahyu! You are December’s Author of The Month! How do you feel about that?”
Wahyu: “Hi, Majari! Of course I feel so glad and surprise too!”

Majari: “Great! Anyway, can you tell us in a nutshell what the membrane technology are all about? Any advantages that it may have compared to prior technologies?”
Wahyu: “Sure, basically membrane is a separation technology. The components will be separated based on size and shape, using pressure and semipermeable membrane. Separation using membrane need less energy and less chemical additives.”

Majari: “Have the technology already been in Indonesia?”
Wahyu: “Yes, it has. It has been used for water purification process.”

Majari: “Can you tell us more about water purification? What exactly the membrane do in that process?”
Wahyu: “The membrane act as a filter to water impurities, such as suspended particles, organic material, even bacteria and virus, depend on type of membrane we use.”

Majari: “So you’re talking about making all the water purification process into one single membrane filtering??”
Wahyu: “Water purification consist a number of stages: sediment filter to trap particles including rust and calcium carbonate, activated carbon filter to trap organic chemical, then RO filter which trap carbon, metals (As, Hg, Pb, etc), even virus and bacteria; depend on size of the pores, and then second activated carbon filter to capture chemicals not removed by reverse osmosis filter, but it’s optional, and finally ultra violet lamp for disinfection any microbes that may escape the reverse osmosis filter.”

Majari: “Ohh.. so some of the traditional equipments may be substituted with membrane and the whole process will be better?”
Wahyu: “Yes, because by using membrane; in this case the RO membrane; we can remove particles up to 1 angstrom. It’s a small unit for particles, I think”

Majari: “Emm.. in the article you’ve mentioned about the hemodialysis process with membrane.. Can you elaborate more about that?”
Wahyu: “Hemodialysis is a process that is used to help people with kidney failures. The membrane acts like a human kidney. It filters the waste product in the human blood like urea.”

Majari: “Wow.. that’s interesting.. Anyway, can you tell us what is your next article? Maybe you can give us a bit info about it.”
Wahyu: “Hmm… actually in the past 3 days, when I studied for my chemurgy final exam, I read about biohydrogen. I was interested in that topic. So, I will find out all about it, and then write you all fellow readers an article, hehehe.. just wait..”

Majari: “OK, then.. And, last but not least.. What are you going to do with the prize?”
Wahyu: “Well, I will go to a restaurant and spend the money to buy a lot of foods!”

Congratulations, Wahyu! The prize is yours! Happy eating then!

And, is it your turn next? Submit your quality articles and see what others think about you opinion!

Salam Majari Kanayakan.

Share your perspective, get imaginative, and be creative!
Salam Majari Kanayakan.

Copy the code below and paste the HTML to you pages. The images shown below are in their actual sizes.

Save the energy, save the world.

290×250px Rectangle Static <a href="http://majarimagazine.com/"><img src="http://majarimagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/spread/saveworld290.jpg" alt="Save the energy, save the world." /></a>

125×108px Rectangle Static <a href="http://majarimagazine.com/"><img src="http://majarimagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/spread/saveworld125.jpg" alt="Save the energy, save the world." /></a>

468×60px Banner Static <a href="http://majarimagazine.com/"><img src="http://majarimagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/spread/saveworld468.jpg" alt="Save the energy, save the world." /></a>

Be CHE Indonesia.

290×250px Rectangle Animated <a href="http://majarimagazine.com/"><img src="http://majarimagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/spread/beche290.gif" alt="Be CHE Indonesia." /></a>

125×108px Rectangle Animated <a href="http://majarimagazine.com/"><img src="http://majarimagazine.com/wp-content/uploads/spread/beche125.gif" alt="Be CHE Indonesia." /></a>

Do you want to make a snippet for Spread Majari campaign? Contact us in a snap and let us know! Do you want to show off your majari-addicted Friendster and MySpace profiles? Fill the comment form below and attach a hyperlink to your page!

And anyway, here is a brief interview with her.

Majari: “Hi, Dinda! You are November’s Author of The Month! How do you feel about that?”
Dinda: “Hi!! Yaa.. of course I’m so happy but actually it’s very surprising!”

Majari: “Great! Anyway, can you tell us in a nutshell what biogas toilets are all about? And how can it stop global warming?”
Dinda: “Well.. biogas toilet is a kind of system that converts human waste into biogas and also fertilizer. And how can it stop global warming? The biogas can be used for electricity or cooking fuel. And we all know that combustion of organic carbon will not will not worsen the global warming. It’s the carbon life-cycle.”

Majari: “Well, global warming is becoming a global issue now. And as we speak, the whole world is having the UN Global Climate Change Meeting in Bali. What do you think about that? Well, Indonesian people should be proud to host a world class meeting like that.”
Dinda: “We have to be proud about this!! That UN Global Climate Change Meeting, held in bali, is hoped to make Indonesian people to be aware about this issue. Don’t only speak out loud about the global warming warning but A REAL CONTRIBUTION is a must.”

Majari: “What do you think, is biogas toilet something that will be feasible to be implemented in our country? Let’s say, rural areas?”
Dinda: “Of course YES.. India can make it feasible.. why can’t we? Some areas in Indonesia are doing this project.”

Majari: “Hmm.. cow and sheep manures are raw materials which usually be converted into biogas. Some areas in Indonesia has been implementing that for 2-3 years. But, what do you think about human faeces?? Will it be something usual in the future?”
Dinda: “Yup.. actually, the biogas from human waste is all the same as biogas from cow and sheep manures.. both can be converted into CH4.. so what’s the different? CH4 is always be CH4..”

Majari: “OK, then.. And, last but not least.. What are you going to do with the prize?”
Dinda: “Buy a dress for myself.. hehe..”

Majari: “Actually, that was the second last but not least. Hehe.. This is the last but not least.. Do you have any messages for the readers? Something to do with global warming, perhaps? The real contribution that you may suggest?”
Dinda: “Hmm.. just show your real contributions to reduce global warming.. It’s started from ourselves. We can drive less and use more fuel-efficient and less-polluting cars. Maybe try to use less electricity and use the energy efficiently. Well, save the energy, save the world!”

Majari: “Thank you for your time, Dinda! Hope to read another interesting articles from you!”
Dinda: “OK.. You’re welcome.. Actually I’m about to publish my article about “Green Burial”. Just keep in touch with Majari. And don’t forget to leave your comments! Hehe..”

Congratulations, Dinda! The prize is yours! Happy shopping then!

And, is it your turn next? Submit your quality articles and see what others think about you opinion!

Salam Majari Kanayakan.

Salam Majari Kanayakan.

Majari Kanayakan correspondents will be expected to write articles about campus activities, current issues, chemical engineering world, and everything. Pick the topic: global issues, current events, academics, scholarship, job vacancy, engineering at work, university, energy, biodiesel, separation, reactor, catalyst, nanotechnology, fluid mechanics, biotechnology, bioprocess, food engineering, waste treatment, project management, student unions, student activites? Got more?? You add!

Prior writing experience is in no way a necessity. If you would like to be a Majari Kanayakan correspondent, register a Majari account and please e-mail us at magazine@majarikanayakan.com for further details.