Chapter 10
Zeolites and Aggregate-Stabilizing
Microbes for Reducing the Degradation
and Carbon Emissions in Tropical
Peatlands
Laksmita P. Santi, Didiek H. Goenadi, and Mitsuru Osaki
Abstract In tropical regions, controversy about peatland and its use continues to
arise when confronted with a trade-off between sustainable use and carbon emission,
partly responsible for global climatic changes. Peatland areas offer considerable
potential to produce food, feed, industrial, and energy crops. In Indonesia the peat
dilemma has been intensified by the growing interest in oil palm cultivation during
the last two decades. Therefore, a suitable technology needs to be provided, namely
one that is technically applicable, economically feasible, and environmentally sustainable. A new technology, the so-called zeo-bio-technology is proposed and
discussed in this research review. The technology entails a combination of a high
exchange capacity mineral, i.e. Bayah zeolites (Pandeglang, Banten), and effective
aggregate-stabilizing microbes, i.e. exo-polysaccharides-producing bacteria. These
could be employed to reduce organic matter decomposition, enhance carbon sequestration, and improve aggregate formation and water holding capacity of peat. The
zeolite mineral is known to have an excellent molecular sieve property which
enables it to hold organic carbon compounds, ammonia, and water leading to its
potential use for carbon sequestration. Moreover, the bacterium producing
exopolysaccharides promotes a more stable aggregate formation and improves
water holding capacity of peat. These improved characteristics will then lead to
peat formation which is less susceptible to fire and further degrading processes.
Keywords Aggregate particles · Bayah zeolites · Carbon sequestration · Exopolysaccharide · Porous material
L. P. Santi · D. H. Goenadi (*)
Indonesian Research Institute for Biotechnology and Bioindustry, Bogor, Indonesia
M. Osaki
Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
M. Osaki et al. (eds.), Tropical Peatland Eco-management,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4654-3_10
327
Zeolites and Aggregate-Stabilizing
Microbes for Reducing the Degradation
and Carbon Emissions in Tropical
Peatlands
Laksmita P. Santi, Didiek H. Goenadi, and Mitsuru Osaki
Abstract In tropical regions, controversy about peatland and its use continues to
arise when confronted with a trade-off between sustainable use and carbon emission,
partly responsible for global climatic changes. Peatland areas offer considerable
potential to produce food, feed, industrial, and energy crops. In Indonesia the peat
dilemma has been intensified by the growing interest in oil palm cultivation during
the last two decades. Therefore, a suitable technology needs to be provided, namely
one that is technically applicable, economically feasible, and environmentally sustainable. A new technology, the so-called zeo-bio-technology is proposed and
discussed in this research review. The technology entails a combination of a high
exchange capacity mineral, i.e. Bayah zeolites (Pandeglang, Banten), and effective
aggregate-stabilizing microbes, i.e. exo-polysaccharides-producing bacteria. These
could be employed to reduce organic matter decomposition, enhance carbon sequestration, and improve aggregate formation and water holding capacity of peat. The
zeolite mineral is known to have an excellent molecular sieve property which
enables it to hold organic carbon compounds, ammonia, and water leading to its
potential use for carbon sequestration. Moreover, the bacterium producing
exopolysaccharides promotes a more stable aggregate formation and improves
water holding capacity of peat. These improved characteristics will then lead to
peat formation which is less susceptible to fire and further degrading processes.
Keywords Aggregate particles · Bayah zeolites · Carbon sequestration · Exopolysaccharide · Porous material
L. P. Santi · D. H. Goenadi (*)
Indonesian Research Institute for Biotechnology and Bioindustry, Bogor, Indonesia
M. Osaki
Hokkaido University, Sapporo, Japan
© The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2021
M. Osaki et al. (eds.), Tropical Peatland Eco-management,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-33-4654-3_10
327