UNS – Student innovation of Universitas Sebelas Maret (UNS) Surakarta successfully passed the Student Creativity Program of Karsa Cipta (PKM-KC) held by the Ministry of Research Technology and Higher Education of the Republic of Indonesia. There are three students who successfully obtained the research grant: Alfiyatul Fithri (2015), Wahyu Puji Pamungkas (2015), and Yayan Dwi Sutarni (2014). They were supervised by Maulidan Firdaus who is a lecturer of the Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences (FMIPA) UNS. The product of the innovation is called as Reusable Fever Compress from Banana Peels and Shrimp Shells or also called as REFICAL.
Alfiyatul Fithri (2015), Wahyu Puji Pamungkas (2015), and Yayan Dwi Sutarni (2014) who made REFICAL
REFICAL is a fever compress made from the combination of banana skin and shrimp shell. This innovation was created due to the high rate of child mortality due to fever cases in Indonesia. The purpose of this product is as first aid fever temperature decrease so that excessive antipyretic administration can be reduced. The method of manufacture begins with the manufacture of hydrogel from banana peel using polymerization technique followed by coating cloth with chitosan from shrimp shell.
REFICAL had been tested using a FTIR spectrophotometer, a temperature drop test and an antibacterial test. The results of the research and testing show that REFICAL can be an effective solution in reducing fever. It also has reusable properties which are antibacterial and economical. REFICAL indirectly can reduce two problems: to reduce child mortality due to fever and to reduce the amount of banana peel waste, and shrimp shells. humas-red.uns.ac.id/Tni/Dty