Satria, the young air pollution fighter

Bambang M., Contributor, Yogyakarta

Come to Yogyakarta and rent a bike to ride around town. The chances of you getting through traffic safely without going through a cloud of exhaust from a motorbike is virtually nil.

The choking air is worse at every junction, where you wait for the light to turn green. Should you forget your Matrix Blind Optics Neo sunglasses or something similar, then be prepared for itchy and sore eyes.

The major cause of air pollution in Yogyakarta is the increasing number of motorcycles droning through the streets. While the provincial administration is still working out a solution to this problem, let us introduce you to 17-year-old Rizky Yudha Satria.

Satria is in his final year at state-run high school SMUN 6 in Yogyakarta. Although he may "only" be a teenager, he has already invented a simple gadget that can reduce the pollution caused by the exhaust from motorcycles.

Check this out: On Aug. 20, he won first prize in the technology category at the national level research program for students and youngsters, the 2003 Science Project Competition for Youths, organized by the Indonesian Institute of Sciences (LIPI). In it, he presented a paper titled "The Influence of Propeller Containing Natural Zeolite over Exhaust Pipes to Reduce Air Pollution (the Case of Carbon Monoxide Gas)".

"This invention is the follow-up to my research on air pollution brought about by the smoke from motorized vehicles in Yogyakarta," said Satria, who won the first-prize trophy, Rp 4 million in cash and a letter from LIPI recommending him to any university of his choice.

Born on July 30, 1986, Satria is very fond of research. One project of note is an environmental survey on brick-making in Sitimulyo, Bantul, which had caused ground water reserves to dry up.

He conducted the survey along with his classmates, and his hard work won him second prize in the 2002 all-Yogyakarta Science Project Competition for Youths.

"He is sensitive to problems found around him," said Rezayas, his father.

Environmental issues comprise Satria's main interest, and he argues that men enjoyed the comforts of life at the expense of the environment. Air conditioners, for example, generates CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons), chemical compounds that are responsible for depleting ozone (O3) from the earth's atmosphere, thereby contributing to global warming. Ozone is the earth's protection against harmful UVB and UVA rays from the sun.

Satria is also aware that 70 percent of the air pollution in the country's major cities is caused by the exhaust fumes from motorized vehicles.

Satria said he had learned from books that natural zeolite (green sand) could absorb carbon monoxide (CO), one of the main components of exhaust fumes. One day, it dawned on him that a propeller containing green sand, fixed at the opening of the exhaust pipe, could help reduce pollution.

"This instrument is his own, original idea," said Rudi Prakanto, advisor to science projects at the school and Satria's mentor.

The central part of Satria's gadget is a small propeller made of sheet iron. Each blade of the propeller has a receptacle containing minute pieces of natural zeolite, which can be replaced with new ones after several days. The outside of the receptacle has small holes to allow the zeolite to absorb the exhaust fumes. This deceptively simple invention is attached to the opening of a motorcycle's exhaust pipe.

Satria has designed the gadget as a propeller because, "there must be no constraint on the air flow of the exhaust pipe".

When the motorcycle is running, the flow of exhaust through the pipe will activate the propeller, and the zeolite chips will rotate, taking rounds in absorbing CO.

After conducting several tests, Satria found that his instrument could reduce CO emission by about 50 percent.

CO is hazardous to human health, as when it is inhaled through exhaust fumes, it will stick to hemoglobin (red blood cells) and reduce their ability to carry oxygen through the bloodstream. As a result, people may develop difficulty breathing, nervous disorders, chronic migraines, and even paralysis. People may even fall into a coma or die from CO poisoning.

Satria's invention is thus very important in reducing air pollution and in protecting people's health from its harmful effects.

He plans to have his invention patented, but before that, "I intend to study further whether this instrument will be economically valuable and whether I can increase its capacity to absorb CO."

He attributes his success to his peers and to Pak Rudi, but most of all, he says with affection that his success is mainly due to the support he has received from his family.

"My dad has never asked me to be number one in the class, so I've had a lot of time for research."

Rezayas said that he had never assisted his son beyond guiding him in the right direction to channel his talents, because he has little knowledge about his son's research.

Balancing the support from loved ones and the intellectual works has almost been Satria's life motto.

He looks up to noted environmental expert Otto Soemarwoto at the Bogor Institute of Agriculture (IPB) as a role model. One thing he admires most about Soemarwoto is the environmentalist's devotion to science as well as his family.

"In his work, Pak Soemarwoto always expresses his gratitude to his family," said Satria, adding that he wished he might one day meet Otto Soemarwoto.

A meeting with Otto Soemarwoto may encourage Satria to progress further, but for now, it is more urgent to popularize his invention among the public.

If his instrument becomes widely used, he will have fulfilled one of his ambitions: to be a useful person by reducing air pollution for the common good.