Ashari Budi Nugraha, S.T., M.T

Ashari Budi Nugraha is a faculty member at the Institut Teknologi Bandung (ITB), where his work sits at the intersection of materials science and environmental sustainability. His primary research interest lies in the valorization of local resources and bioresources—such as agricultural waste and recycled materials—to develop high-performance, advanced materials for various applications.

His current research initiatives include:

• Waste-to-Adsorbent Technology: Developing efficient biochar adsorbents for the removal of heavy metals and dyes from industrial wastewater. His approach utilizes biochar from locally sourced tree branches combined with Luffa aegyptiaca (sponge gourd) as a natural scaffold to enhance the material’s surface area and filtration capabilities.
• Bio-based Hydrogels for Healthcare: Engineering green hydrogels for wound dressing applications. He integrates nanocellulose derived from banana peel waste with chitosan, employing citric acid as a safe crosslinking agent to create biocompatible materials with superior moisture retention and antibacterial properties.

Through these projects, he aims to convert environmental liabilities into valuable assets, contributing to a circular economy while addressing a variety of challenges.