ORIGINAL RESEARCH
Characterizing Volcanic Ash Elements from
the 2015 Eruptions of Bromo and Raung Volcanoes,
Indonesia
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1
Laboratory of Air Quality and Astro Imaging, Department of Physics, University of Brawijaya,
Malang, East Java, Indonesia
2
FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences, Juelich, Germany
Submission date: 2018-08-12
Final revision date: 2018-10-10
Acceptance date: 2018-10-21
Online publication date: 2020-01-23
Publication date: 2020-02-13
Corresponding author
Arinto Y.P. Wardoyo
Laboratory of Air Quality and Astro Imaging, Physics Department, Brawijaya University, Jl. Veteran, 65145 Malang, Indonesia
Pol. J. Environ. Stud. 2020;29(2):1899-1907
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ABSTRACT
The volcanic eruptions of Mt. Bromo and Mt. Raung in East Java, Indonesia, in 2015 perturbed
volcanic materials and affected surface-layer air quality at surrounding locations. During the episodes,
the volcanic ash from the eruptions influenced visibility, traffic accidents, flight schedules, and human
health. In this research, the volcanic ash particles were collected and characterized by relying on the
detail of physical observation. We performed an assessment of the volcanic ash elements to characterize
the volcanic ash using two different methods which are aqua regia extracts followed by MP-AES and
XRF laboratory test of bulk samples. The analysis results showed that the volcanic ash was mixed of
many materials, such as Al, Si, P, K, Ca, Ti, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Ni, and others. Fe, Si, Ca, and Al were found
as the major elements, while the others were the trace elements Ba, Cr, Cu, Mn, P, Mn, Ni, Zn, Sb,
Sr, and V with the minor concentrations. XRF analyses showed that Fe dominated the elements of the
volcanic ash. The XRF analysis showed that Fe was at 35.40% in Bromo and 43.00% in Raung of the
detected elements in bulk material. The results of aqua regia extracts analyzed by MP-AES were 1.80%
and 1.70% of Fe element for Bromo and Raung volcanoes, respectively.