Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement

ALCHEMY Jurnal Penelitian Kimia (p-ISSN: 1412-4092; e-ISSN: 2443-4183) is a peer-reviewed journal published by Universitas Sebelas Maret. This statement defines the ethical responsibilities of authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher before, during, and after publication, including special issues. It is informed by Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) guidance and the ACS Ethical Guidelines to Publication of Chemical Research.

Responsibilities of Authors and Authorship

Authors must report their research accurately, explain its limitations, and take responsibility for all submitted content, including work performed by third-party laboratories or service providers. Every author must make a substantial contribution to the research, participate in drafting or critical revision, approve the final manuscript, and accept accountability for their contribution and the resolution of integrity concerns. 

Guest, honorary, purchased, fictitious, and undisclosed authorship are prohibited. The corresponding author must obtain all authors' approval of submission and revisions. Contributions must be described using CRediT; other contributors should be acknowledged with their permission. Authorship changes require written justification, agreement from all affected authors, and editorial approval. Unresolved disputes may be referred to the relevant institutions.

For the CRediT role definitions, contribution-statement example, and acknowledgment requirements, see Authorship and Contributorship. Permitted AI assistance and the corresponding disclosure requirements are detailed in AI Tools Usage Policy in Article Preparation.

Authors must disclose funding, the funder's role, and financial or non-financial competing interests, including an explicit declaration when none exist. Authors must promptly report significant errors and cooperate in correcting the record.

Definitions, disclosure requirements, and procedures for handling competing interests among authors, reviewers, editors, and the publisher are provided in the Conflict of Interest policy.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors must assess manuscripts fairly on scientific merit, relevance, and compliance with journal requirements, without discrimination or commercial influence. They must protect confidentiality, appoint suitable reviewers, communicate reasoned decisions, and address credible ethical concerns. Editors must not exploit unpublished information or demand irrelevant citations.

Editors must disclose competing interests and withdraw from handling their own submissions or work involving relationships that compromise impartiality. Such manuscripts require independent editorial handling. Guest editors follow the same standards, and the Editor-in-Chief retains oversight of special issues. These responsibilities follow the principles described in the ACS ethical guidelines for editors.

Peer Review and Responsibilities of Reviewers

ALCHEMY applies single-anonymized (single-blind) peer review: reviewers know the authors' identities, while reviewer identities are withheld from authors. Manuscripts passing initial editorial assessment are evaluated by at least three independent reviewers. Editors make publication decisions based on the reports and their own assessment. Special issues follow the same standards.

Reviewers must have appropriate expertise, meet agreed deadlines, disclose competing interests, and provide objective, constructive, evidence-based reports. They must keep submissions and review materials confidential, obtain editorial permission before involving another person, and avoid using unpublished information for personal advantage. Suspected irregularities must be reported privately to the editor. Reviewer impersonation, fabricated reports, collusion, and coercive citation are prohibited. Reviewer conduct is guided by the COPE Ethical Guidelines for Peer Reviewers.

Responsibilities of the Publisher

Universitas Sebelas Maret supports editorial independence, confidential handling of submissions, fair investigation of ethical concerns, and preservation of the scholarly record. Publication fees, advertising, and sponsorship must not determine acceptance. The publisher assists editors in implementing corrections and other notices and arranging independent oversight when necessary. These duties are informed by the Principles of Transparency and Best Practice in Scholarly Publishing.

The institutional arrangements for editorial independence are described in Ownership and Management, while the separation of advertising and sponsorship from editorial decisions is explained in the Advertising Policy.

Originality, Plagiarism, and Citation Integrity

Fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, duplicate submission, redundant publication, and misleading fragmentation of results are prohibited. Authors must disclose related manuscripts and earlier dissemination, including preprints, theses, and conference publications, for editorial assessment. Reused material requires appropriate attribution and necessary permission. References must be relevant and verifiable; citation manipulation is unacceptable.

Manuscripts are screened using Turnitin or an equivalent service before review and before publication. The journal's 20% similarity threshold is a screening criterion requiring assessment of the sources and nature of overlap. A lower score does not establish originality, and a higher score alone does not establish misconduct. Editors may request clarification or revision, or reject manuscripts with substantial ethical problems. Relevant principles are described in the ACS ethical obligations of authors.

The screening stages, originality requirements, self-plagiarism provisions, and possible consequences are explained further in the Plagiarism Policy. These operational provisions complement the ethical principles stated here.

Data Reproducibility and Integrity of Figures

Authors must retain the original evidence supporting their findings and provide it for justified editorial requests, subject to explained restrictions. A Data Availability Statement must identify access to supporting data and code, or explain restrictions and access procedures. Repository deposition is encouraged, consistent with the principles of the ACS Research Data Policy.

Methods must permit assessment and reproduction. Chemistry studies require suitable evidence of substance or material identity, purity, and composition. Relevant spectra, chromatograms, diffraction data, microscopy records, and computational inputs should support the reported claims. Computational studies must identify software, essential parameters, and validation. Measured and predicted results must be distinguished. See the RSC guidance on experimental reporting.

Data exclusions and processing affecting interpretation must be explained. Figures must accurately represent their evidence. Fabricating features, hiding signals, or presenting duplicated images as different experiments is prohibited. Cropping, composites, and reuse must be identified, and original files retained.

Research Ethics and Chemical Safety

Research involving humans, identifiable human materials or data, or animals must obtain appropriate ethical approval before the work begins, where required. Manuscripts must identify the approving body and approval reference and report informed consent, an authorized waiver, or a justified exemption. Identifiable information requires appropriate protection and consent for publication.

Relevant research must follow the Declaration of Helsinki or suitable animal-welfare standards, including ARRIVE. Authors must document necessary sampling and material-use permissions and disclose unusual hazards, relevant precautions, environmental safeguards, and substantial risks of harmful misuse, following the principles in RSC author guidance on safety and research ethics.

For the reporting and investigation of suspected ethical breaches, see Allegation of Research Misconduct. Complaints about editorial conduct and appeals against decisions are addressed in Complaints and Appeals. Scholarly comments after publication are covered by Post-publication Discussions, while formal changes to the publication record are governed by Correction and Retraction.

Allegation of Research Misconduct

ALCHEMY Jurnal Penelitian Kimia is committed to maintaining the accuracy and integrity of the scholarly record by addressing allegations of research misconduct fairly and transparently. Research misconduct includes fabrication, falsification, citation manipulation, plagiarism, and other serious ethical violations in conducting, reviewing, or reporting research.

Allegations of suspected research misconduct should be submitted to alchemy@mipa.uns.ac.id, identifying the manuscript or published article, the nature of the concern, supporting evidence, and any relevant competing interests. Specific and credible anonymous reports will also be considered.

All allegations will be assessed impartially by the Editors or an appropriately independent representative in accordance with relevant COPE guidelines and flowcharts. The initial assessment involves validating the allegations, determining whether they constitute research misconduct, and identifying potential conflicts of interest.

The disclosure and recusal requirements supporting impartial assessment are detailed in the Conflict of Interest policy. Concerns involving textual overlap or inappropriate AI use should also be read alongside the Plagiarism Policy and AI Tools Usage Policy in Article Preparation, respectively.

When credible evidence of potential misconduct is identified, the corresponding author will be contacted and requested to provide a detailed explanation on behalf of all coauthors. The Editors may seek independent expert opinions, involve the Editorial Board, or refer the matter to the relevant institution for formal investigation. Institutions are responsible for investigating research misconduct within their jurisdiction, while the journal retains responsibility for editorial decisions and maintaining the integrity of the publication record.

Editorial actions will depend on the findings and severity of the misconduct. Manuscripts confirmed to involve serious misconduct may be rejected. For published articles, appropriate measures may include corrections, retractions with replacement, or retractions, depending on the circumstances and applicable publication ethics guidelines. Where misconduct is not substantiated, additional explanations, analyses, or corrections may be sufficient. Any published notices will be linked to the original article to ensure transparency.

The grounds for corrections and retractions, the content of formal notices, and preservation of the affected article are explained further in Correction and Retraction.

Throughout the process, confidentiality will be maintained to the extent reasonably possible, relevant parties will be informed of the outcomes, and appropriate records will be retained. Withdrawal of a manuscript does not necessarily terminate an ongoing ethical investigation.

Complaints about the handling of a case or appeals against an editorial decision should follow Complaints and Appeals. That policy complements the investigation procedures described here.

Complaints and Appeals

ALCHEMY Jurnal Penelitian Kimia is committed to providing a fair, transparent, and impartial mechanism for addressing complaints and appeals concerning editorial decisions, peer review procedures, publication processes, and the conduct of editorial personnel.

Complaints and appeals should be submitted to alchemy@mipa.uns.ac.id, clearly identifying the manuscript or published article, the nature of the complaint or appeal, specific reasons, supporting evidence, and any relevant competing interests. Complaints submitted in good faith will be handled without retaliation, and credible anonymous complaints will be considered where sufficient information is provided.

Complaints will be assessed by the Editors or an appropriately independent representative. Complaints involving an Editor or the publisher will be referred for independent assessment to prevent conflicts of interest. The journal may request explanations from relevant parties, consult independent experts, or seek institutional assistance where necessary, following applicable COPE guidance.

The disclosure and recusal requirements that support independent assessment are set out in the Conflict of Interest policy.

Authors who disagree with an editorial decision may submit an appeal supported by specific reasons and relevant evidence. Appeals will be reviewed impartially, considering the original decision, reviewers' comments, editorial assessments, and any additional information provided. An appeal does not automatically guarantee reconsideration or reversal of the original decision.

Any editorial actions or submission restrictions resulting from complaints must be evidence-based, proportionate, and open to appeal. Restrictions, where imposed, will have a clearly defined duration and justification.

Throughout the process, confidentiality will be protected to the extent reasonably possible. Relevant parties will be informed of the outcomes, and appropriate records will be maintained to ensure accountability and transparency.

Where a complaint raises suspected fabrication, falsification, plagiarism, or another research-integrity concern, the reporting and investigation procedures are described in Allegation of Research Misconduct. Any resulting correction or retraction of published work should also be read alongside Correction and Retraction. These policies complement the complaint and appeal mechanism described here.

Post-publication Discussions

The journal recognizes that scholarly discourse continues beyond publication. The journal encourages constructive and respectful discussion of published articles as a means to advance understanding, clarify findings, and refine knowledge in accordance with its focus and scope. Consistent with COPE’s core practices and WAME’s guidance, post-publication discussions should contribute to the accuracy, transparency, and integrity of the scholarly record.

Readers and authors may submit letters to the editor, short commentaries, or evidence-based concerns regarding articles published in the journal. Submissions should be concise, supported by relevant evidence, and directly related to the article under discussion. All submissions will undergo editorial assessment to ensure their relevance, scholarly value, and respectful presentation. Where online commenting is available, comments may be moderated to maintain constructive discussion.

Authors of the original article will normally be given an opportunity to respond to substantive comments or critiques. Accepted commentaries and author responses may be published and linked to the original article to facilitate further scholarly exchange.

Post-publication discussions that identify material errors or concerns about research integrity will be assessed in accordance with the journal’s Corrections and Retractions policy. Depending on the nature and severity of the concerns, appropriate editorial actions may include issuing a correction, publishing an expression of concern, or retracting the article, following the COPE Retraction Guidelines.

Any resulting editorial notices must clearly identify and link to the affected article, explain the reasons for the action, and remain publicly accessible. Retracted articles will normally remain available with clear labeling to preserve the scholarly record. Authors may provide responses or clarifications, although their agreement is not required for justified editorial action.

When a discussion raises suspected research misconduct, the reporting and investigation procedures in Allegation of Research Misconduct provide further guidance. Complaints about editorial handling or appeals against decisions are addressed separately in Complaints and Appeals. These routes complement scholarly discussion and the publication-record measures described above.

Correction and Retraction

ALCHEMY Jurnal Penelitian Kimia is committed to maintaining the accuracy, integrity, and transparency of the scholarly record. Published articles may require corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when significant errors or issues related to research integrity are identified. Authors, readers, and reviewers are encouraged to report such concerns to the Editor-in-Chief with supporting evidence. All reports will be evaluated impartially in accordance with the guidelines of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and the recommendations of the World Association of Medical Editors (WAME).

The reporting and investigation of suspected misconduct are described in Allegation of Research Misconduct. The submission and editorial assessment of scholarly comments and author responses are covered by Post-publication Discussions. Together, these policies explain how concerns may be raised and assessed before a formal notice is considered.

Corrections

Corrections will be issued when errors or omissions affect the interpretation or understanding of a published article without invalidating its principal findings or conclusions. Errors originating from authors may be addressed through a corrigendum, while errors introduced during the publication process may be addressed through an erratum.

Each correction notice will clearly describe the error and the amendments made, and will be permanently linked to the original article. Any modifications to the published article will be clearly identified to maintain transparency.

Retractions

Articles published in ALCHEMY Jurnal Penelitian Kimia may be considered for retraction under the following circumstances:

1. There is clear evidence that the findings are unreliable due to major errors (e.g., miscalculations or experimental errors), fabrication of data, or falsification (e.g., image manipulation).

2. The article constitutes plagiarism.

3. The findings have been previously published elsewhere without proper attribution, disclosure, permission, or justification, constituting redundant publication.

4. The article contains material or data used without proper authorization.

5. The article infringes copyright or involves other serious legal issues, such as defamation or privacy violations.

6. The article reports research conducted in violation of ethical standards.

7. The article was published based on a compromised or manipulated peer review process.

8. The authors failed to disclose major competing interests or conflicts of interest that could have significantly influenced the interpretation of the findings or editorial decisions.

Retraction decisions will be based on the available evidence and the need to protect the integrity of the scholarly record. A formal retraction notice will identify the affected article, specify who is retracting it, and explain the reasons for retraction, distinguishing between honest errors and research misconduct where possible. Retracted articles will ordinarily remain accessible but will be clearly marked as retracted and permanently linked to the corresponding retraction notice.

For the underlying standards relevant to plagiarism and undisclosed competing interests, see the Plagiarism Policy and Conflict of Interest policy. Complaints about the editorial handling of a correction or retraction, or appeals against an editorial decision, should follow Complaints and Appeals.

Conflict of Interest

This journal is dedicated to upholding the highest standards of transparency and ethical conduct in academic publishing. This policy provides definitions of conflicts of interest and describes procedures for addressing conflicts of interest involving authors, reviewers, editors, the journal, and the publisher, whether identified prior to or after publication. The journal adheres to the Core Practices established by the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE).

Definition of Conflicts of Interest

A conflict of interest occurs when an individual or entity has financial, personal, professional, or academic relationships or interests that could influence or appear to influence their objectivity, integrity, or decision-making in the context of research, review, editorial work, or publication processes.

Identification of Conflicts of Interest

All participants in the publication process including authors, reviewers, editors, and others are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest relevant to the work they are submitting, reviewing, editing, or publishing. These potential conflicts may include, but are not limited to:

Financial interests: Funding sources, stock ownership, employment, consultancy arrangements, or other financial ties related to the research.

Personal relationships: Close personal or familial relationships with individuals involved in the research or publication process.

Academic relationships: Collaborations or academic affiliations that could affect objectivity or create perceptions of bias.

Competing affiliations: Relationships with competing organizations that might have conflicting interests in the research or its outcomes.

Intellectual property: Ownership of patents, copyrights, or intellectual property rights potentially impacted by the research or publication.

Handling Conflicts of Interest

The management will address conflicts of interest with diligence and transparency.

For Authors: Authors are required to disclose all potential conflicts of interest during the manuscript submission process. If a conflict of interest is identified after publication, authors should promptly inform the editorial board. The editorial board will address the conflict transparently and, if necessary, issue corrections or retractions.

The procedures and publication notices used to address errors or omissions in published disclosures are explained further in Correction and Retraction.

For Reviewers: Reviewers must decline invitations to review if they have conflicts of interest that could compromise their impartiality. If a conflict arises during the review process, reviewers should immediately notify the editorial board for appropriate action.

For Editors and Journal Staff: Editors and journal staff involved in the review and publication process must recuse themselves from handling submissions in which they have conflicts of interest. When uncertainty arises, the editorial board will decide on the appropriate course of action.

For Publishers: The publisher must implement policies to address potential conflicts of interest within its organization. The publisher should ensure that editorial decisions and processes are free from financial or competing interests.

Transparency and Disclosure

This journal will clearly outline its conflicts of interest policy and inform all stakeholders of the requirements for disclosure. Disclosures made by authors, reviewers, editors, and other stakeholders will be published alongside the relevant articles, reviews, or editorials to ensure transparency. Additionally, the journal will limit or restrict access to the publication process for editors, reviewers, and stakeholders who co-author articles submitted to the journal.

These disclosure and recusal provisions complement the responsibilities described in Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement. The separation of commercial interests from editorial judgment is detailed in the Advertising Policy. Complaints involving a conflicted editor or publisher are addressed through the independent assessment provisions in Complaints and Appeals.

Plagiarism

The ALCHEMY Jurnal Penelitian Kimia takes plagiarism, self-plagiarism, and AI-generated plagiarism seriously and applies a strict policy to safeguard the originality and integrity of all published work.

Plagiarism Check

• All submitted manuscripts are screened using plagiarism detection software (e.g., Turnitin).
• The editorial team performs a similarity check twice: before the peer-review process and before final publication.
• The maximum acceptable similarity index is 20%. Manuscripts exceeding this threshold will be returned to the authors for correction and resubmission.

Originality Requirement

• Authors must submit only original manuscripts that have not been published previously and are not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
• Any form of plagiarism, including uncredited use of others’ ideas, text, or data, is strictly prohibited and will result in rejection.

Self-Plagiarism

• Authors must avoid redundant publication or extensive reuse of their previously published work.
• If parts of prior work must be reused, they should be properly cited and acknowledged.

AI-Generated Plagiarism

• Authors must not use generative AI or AI-assisted tools to produce original ideas, data, figures, or substantial text for their manuscripts.
• Generative AI may only be used for language improvement and readability with full author oversight (see link: Declaration of Generative AI policy).
• The editorial team reserves the right to screen manuscripts for inappropriate or undisclosed AI-generated content.

Consequences

If plagiarism or self-plagiarism is detected during the review or after publication, the editorial board will take appropriate action, which may include:

• Rejection of the manuscript
• Retraction of the published article (see link: Retraction)
• Notification to the authors’ institutions or funding bodies

The ALCHEMY Jurnal Penelitian Kimia upholds the highest standards of academic integrity and expects all authors to comply with ethical publishing practices. By submitting a manuscript, authors acknowledge that their work is original, free of plagiarism, and adheres to the principles of responsible research conduct.

The broader ethical duties concerning originality and citation integrity are described in Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement. Where suspected plagiarism requires an investigation, the reporting and assessment procedures are provided in Allegation of Research Misconduct. The AI and retraction provisions linked above give additional guidance for those specific circumstances.

AI Tools Usage Policy

Purpose and Scope

This policy establishes ethical standards for the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and AI-assisted technologies by authors, editors, reviewers, and other individuals involved in the scholarly publication process of ALCHEMY Jurnal Penelitian Kimia.

The journal follows the principles of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE), particularly its Core Practices and position statement on Authorship and AI Tools, emphasizing research integrity, transparency, confidentiality, accountability, and human responsibility.

This policy applies to all manuscripts submitted to the journal, including original research articles, review articles, and submissions to special issues. It governs the use of AI technologies in manuscript preparation, research reporting, peer review, editorial assessment, and publication.

Definition of Artificial Intelligence (AI) Tools

AI tools include, but are not limited to, large language models (LLMs), generative AI applications for text, images, code, and translation, and AI-assisted software for writing, paraphrasing, summarizing, data analysis, or visualization.

Examples include ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, Microsoft Copilot, and other technologies capable of generating or substantially modifying content.

Standard spelling, punctuation, and grammar-checking functions integrated into conventional word processors are not classified as generative AI under this policy, provided that they do not generate substantive content or alter the scientific meaning of the text.

The use of AI tools must comply with the principles of transparency, scientific accuracy, intellectual property protection, and human accountability. Permitted uses differ according to the responsibilities of authors, editors, and reviewers.

AI Use by Authors

1. Permitted Use in Manuscript Preparation

Authors may use generative AI and AI-assisted technologies solely to improve the language, grammar, clarity, and readability of text originally prepared by the authors.

The following requirements apply:

1. AI tools must be used only for language refinement and must not replace the authors' intellectual contributions, scientific reasoning, or independent judgment.
2. All AI-assisted revisions must be carefully reviewed, verified, and approved by the authors before submission.
3. Authors must ensure that AI-assisted editing does not introduce inaccurate statements, unsupported claims, misleading interpretations, or changes to the original scientific meaning.
4. Authors retain full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, integrity, and reliability of all manuscript content, regardless of whether AI tools have been used.
5. Any use of generative AI in manuscript writing must be disclosed in accordance with the declaration requirements specified in this policy.

2. Prohibited Use in Scientific Writing

Authors must not use generative AI or AI-assisted technologies to:

1. Generate original research ideas, research questions, hypotheses, or scientific interpretations in place of the authors' independent intellectual contributions.
2. Generate, fabricate, falsify, or manipulate experimental data, research findings, statistical results, or scientific evidence.
3. Write substantial portions of a manuscript, including the Introduction, Methods, Results, Discussion, or Conclusions, without substantive original authorship.
4. Generate scientific arguments, conclusions, or interpretations that have not been independently developed and verified by the authors.
5. Fabricate, invent, or automatically generate unverified references, citations, quotations, or bibliographic information.
6. Paraphrase previously published materials to conceal plagiarism, duplicate publication, or improper attribution.
7. Misrepresent AI-generated content as independently conducted research or original scientific contributions.

All references and supporting information must be obtained from authentic, verifiable sources.

The originality and attribution requirements are further explained in the journal's Plagiarism Policy.

3. Authorship and AI Contributions

Generative AI systems and AI-assisted technologies must not be listed or cited as authors or co-authors.

Authorship requires intellectual contribution, accountability, approval of the final manuscript, and responsibility for addressing concerns regarding research integrity. These obligations cannot be fulfilled by AI systems.

All listed authors must:

1. Make substantial contributions consistent with the journal's authorship requirements.
2. Review and approve any content revised using AI-assisted technologies.
3. Accept full responsibility for the accuracy and integrity of the submitted and published article.
4. Ensure that AI assistance does not replace or misrepresent the contributions of human authors.

Detailed requirements concerning author contributions, acknowledgment, and accountability are provided in Authorship and Contributorship.

4. Declaration of Generative AI in Scientific Writing

Authors must declare any use of generative AI or AI-assisted technologies during the manuscript writing process at the time of submission.

The declaration must be included in a separate section titled "Declaration of Generative AI and AI-Assisted Technologies in the Writing Process", placed immediately before the References list, as described in the Author Guidelines and Manuscript Template.

The declaration must specify:

1. The name and version of the AI tool or service used.
2. The purpose of its use.
3. The manuscript sections or writing activities in which the tool was used.
4. Confirmation that the authors have reviewed and edited the AI-assisted output and accept full responsibility for the final content.

Recommended Declaration Format:

"During the preparation of this manuscript, the author(s) used [NAME AND VERSION OF AI TOOL] to [SPECIFY PURPOSE, SUCH AS IMPROVING LANGUAGE AND READABILITY] in [SPECIFY MANUSCRIPT SECTIONS]. Following the use of this tool, the author(s) carefully reviewed, verified, and edited the content and take(s) full responsibility for the accuracy, originality, and integrity of the published article."

Routine spelling, punctuation, or grammar checking that does not involve substantive generative AI processing does not require a declaration.

Failure to disclose applicable AI assistance may constitute a breach of the journal's publication ethics policy.

AI Use in Research Methods and Data Analysis

The restrictions on generative AI in manuscript writing do not prohibit the legitimate scientific application of AI-based technologies as part of a documented research methodology.

AI-based methods, including machine learning, predictive modeling, computational analysis, automated classification, and AI-assisted analytical techniques, may be employed when scientifically appropriate and consistent with established research standards.

Authors using AI as part of the research methodology must:

1. Clearly describe the purpose and role of the AI system in the Methods section.
2. Identify the name, version, developer, manufacturer, or provider of the AI tool or model.
3. Report relevant model configurations, parameters, input data, processing procedures, and validation approaches, where applicable.
4. Explain how the AI-assisted results were verified, evaluated, or interpreted by the researchers.
5. Ensure that the methodology is sufficiently transparent and reproducible.
6. Clearly distinguish empirical observations from predictions, simulations, or AI-derived outputs.
7. Retain relevant research records and supporting data for verification when reasonably requested by the Editorial Board.

AI-based research tools must not be used to fabricate observations, obscure analytical limitations, manipulate findings, or misrepresent the origin of scientific data.

Any use of AI in research methods or data analysis must be reported in the Methods section rather than being disclosed solely as AI assistance in scientific writing.

Generative AI in Figures, Images, and Artwork

Figures, images, spectra, chromatograms, graphical representations, and other visual materials constitute important elements of the scientific record. Their authenticity, accuracy, and traceability must be maintained.

Accordingly, ALCHEMY Jurnal Penelitian Kimia establishes the following requirements:

1. Authors must not use generative AI or AI-assisted content-generation tools to create, modify, enhance, or manipulate images, figures, or artwork submitted as part of a manuscript, except when the technology constitutes a clearly documented element of the research methodology.
2. Authors must not use generative AI to fabricate or modify experimental images, microscopy results, spectra, chromatograms, diffraction patterns, or other visual representations of scientific evidence.
3. AI-assisted image processing or analysis may be permitted when it forms an essential part of a legitimate research method. Such use must be scientifically justified and reported in the Methods section.
4. When AI-assisted image processing forms part of the research methodology, authors must identify:
   • The name of the AI tool or model.
   • The version and relevant extension numbers.
   • The manufacturer, developer, or source.
   • The purpose and procedures of the AI-assisted processing.
   • The verification methods used to preserve scientific accuracy.
5. Conventional scientific visualization and image-processing software may be used to present authentic research data, provided that the processing does not misrepresent, conceal, fabricate, or distort scientific findings.
6. Authors may be required to provide original, unprocessed images or underlying research data to verify the authenticity of visual materials.
7. Generative AI or AI-assisted content-generation tools must not be used to produce graphical abstracts.

All visual materials must accurately represent the underlying research and comply with the journal's scientific integrity and intellectual property requirements.

AI Use by Editors

Editors, including the Editor-in-Chief, Associate Editors, Section Editors, Guest Editors, and other editorial personnel, must uphold the confidentiality, independence, fairness, and integrity of the editorial assessment process.

1. Confidentiality and Data Protection

Editors must not upload, copy, transmit, or otherwise disclose submitted manuscripts or confidential publication materials, in whole or in part, to generative AI systems.

This prohibition includes:

1. Submitted manuscripts, unpublished research findings, and supplementary files.
2. Reviewer identities, confidential reviewer reports, and peer-review correspondence.
3. Editorial assessments, decision letters, and confidential communications with authors.
4. Unpublished data, copyrighted materials, or personally identifiable information obtained through editorial responsibilities.

This restriction applies regardless of whether the AI platform is publicly accessible, privately hosted, or operated through a subscription service. Confidential manuscript information must not be processed using generative AI tools.

2. Prohibited Use in Editorial Assessment

Editors must not use generative AI to:

1. Evaluate the scientific quality, originality, validity, or significance of submitted manuscripts.
2. Generate scientific assessments or recommendations concerning manuscript acceptance or rejection.
3. Draft, generate, or substantially revise editorial decision letters using confidential manuscript information.
4. Automatically determine manuscript suitability, reviewer recommendations, or editorial outcomes.
5. Replace independent editorial judgment with AI-generated evaluations or conclusions.

All editorial decisions, including desk rejection, requests for revision, acceptance, and rejection, must be made by authorized human editors based on independent scientific assessment and appropriate peer-review evidence.

3. Permitted Administrative and Technical Assistance

Editors may use journal-approved, non-generative technical tools to support routine editorial and administrative activities, including:

1. Similarity checking and plagiarism screening using Turnitin or equivalent approved services.
2. Bibliographic and reference validation.
3. Metadata verification and manuscript formatting checks.
4. Technical assessment of compliance with submission requirements.
5. Routine administrative tasks that do not involve the disclosure of confidential manuscript information.

Generative AI may be used only for general, non-confidential administrative correspondence or language refinement unrelated to the scientific evaluation of a specific manuscript.

Such use must not involve confidential submissions, peer-review information, or editorial decisions.

4. Editorial Responsibility and Accountability

Editors remain personally responsible for all editorial judgments and communications issued under their authority.

The use of technical screening tools does not diminish editorial responsibility, and automated screening results must be independently assessed before any consequential editorial action is taken.

Editors who identify potential misuse of AI must address the concern fairly, confidentially, and in accordance with the journal's established ethical investigation procedures.

AI Use by Reviewers

Peer review requires independent scientific expertise, critical evaluation, confidentiality, and professional accountability.

To protect these principles, ALCHEMY Jurnal Penelitian Kimia prohibits reviewers from using generative AI or AI-assisted content-generation tools in the peer-review process.

1. Prohibited Activities

Reviewers must not use generative AI or AI-assisted technologies to:

1. Read, interpret, summarize, or translate submitted manuscripts or supplementary materials.
2. Evaluate research methodology, experimental procedures, data analysis, results, or scientific conclusions.
3. Generate criticisms, recommendations, scientific comments, or assessments of manuscript quality.
4. Draft, paraphrase, rewrite, translate, or improve the language of peer-review reports.
5. Generate confidential comments to editors or recommendations concerning editorial decisions.
6. Verify manuscript content by submitting unpublished research materials or information derived from a confidential submission to an AI system.
7. Delegate any part of their independent scientific assessment to an AI system.

Routine spelling and punctuation checks using conventional, non-generative word-processing functions are not prohibited, provided that confidential review content is not transmitted to unauthorized external services.

2. Confidentiality of Review Materials

Reviewers must not upload, transmit, or disclose any part of a submitted manuscript, supplementary file, reviewer report, or confidential editorial communication to an AI platform.

This restriction applies even when the intended purpose is language correction, summarization, translation, or technical assistance.

The confidentiality obligation continues after the peer-review process has concluded, regardless of whether the manuscript is accepted, rejected, or withdrawn.

3. Reviewer Independence and Accountability

By accepting a review invitation, reviewers confirm that:

1. Their scientific assessment will be conducted independently without prohibited AI assistance.
2. Their review reports will reflect their own professional knowledge, critical reasoning, and scientific judgment.
3. They will maintain the confidentiality of all materials received through the review process.
4. They accept full responsibility for the accuracy, fairness, objectivity, and integrity of their review reports.

Reviewers must promptly inform the handling editor if they become aware of any breach of these requirements.

If a reviewer is found to have submitted an AI-generated or AI-assisted review in violation of this policy, the journal may disregard the affected report, request an independent replacement review, and reconsider the reviewer's eligibility for future assignments.

Serious or repeated violations may result in removal from the reviewer database or further action under the journal's publication ethics procedures.

Transparency, Data Privacy, and Intellectual Property

All individuals involved in the journal's publication process must respect applicable confidentiality, data-protection, copyright, and intellectual property requirements.

1. Transparency and Disclosure

Authors must provide complete and accurate disclosure of permitted generative AI assistance in manuscript preparation and clearly document AI-based research methods.

The journal may request additional information concerning AI use, including:

1. The name, version, and provider of the AI tool.
2. The purposes and extent of its use.
3. Relevant prompts, inputs, or processing procedures, where necessary and appropriate.
4. Details of author verification, validation, and human oversight.
5. Supporting records relevant to the authenticity and reproducibility of the research.

Such requests must be proportionate to the concern being assessed and conducted with due regard for confidentiality and intellectual property rights.

2. Confidentiality and Intellectual Property

Authors must not enter confidential information, sensitive personal data, or third-party copyrighted material into AI systems without the necessary authorization and appropriate safeguards.

Authors must ensure that permitted AI-assisted activities do not infringe copyright, licensing restrictions, proprietary rights, or applicable data-protection requirements.

AI-generated outputs may raise questions concerning originality, copyright ownership, attribution, and legal protection. Authors are responsible for verifying the lawful use of any material incorporated into their manuscripts.

Editors and reviewers must maintain the confidentiality of unpublished submissions and must not use privileged research information for personal or professional advantage.

The use of AI technologies does not transfer or diminish the ethical, legal, and professional responsibilities of the individuals involved.

AI Detection, Ethical Oversight, and Misconduct

ALCHEMY Jurnal Penelitian Kimia reserves the right to assess manuscripts, review reports, and editorial activities when there are reasonable grounds to suspect undisclosed or prohibited AI use.

1. Screening and Assessment

The journal may employ approved screening tools, editorial examination, and independent expert assessment to identify potential irregularities.

However, automated AI-detection results are not considered conclusive evidence of misconduct. Such results must be interpreted cautiously because automated detection systems may produce inaccurate classifications.

No allegation or sanction shall be based solely on an AI-detection score without appropriate contextual assessment and supporting evidence.

2. Investigation Procedures

Potential violations will be evaluated in accordance with COPE guidance and the journal's Allegation of Research Misconduct policy.

The investigation process may include:

1. An initial assessment of the concern and available supporting evidence.
2. Requests for clarification, documentation, or relevant research records.
3. Independent evaluation by editors or appropriately qualified experts.
4. An opportunity for the individuals concerned to provide an explanation.
5. A proportionate editorial response based on the nature, severity, and substantiation of the violation.

Investigations must maintain confidentiality, avoid conflicts of interest, and distinguish deliberate misconduct from honest errors or misunderstandings.

3. Possible Editorial Actions

Depending on the findings and severity of the violation, appropriate actions may include:

1. Requests for clarification, correction, or additional disclosure.
2. Return of a manuscript for revision or rejection before publication.
3. Disregarding an affected peer-review report and appointing replacement reviewers.
4. Removal or suspension of reviewers or editors from journal responsibilities.
5. Issuance of a correction, expression of concern, or retraction when justified by the integrity of the published record.
6. Notification of relevant institutions or other responsible authorities in serious or substantiated cases.

Post-publication actions must follow the journal's Correction and Retraction policy.

Individuals who wish to challenge editorial actions may submit a formal complaint or appeal through the journal's established editorial procedures.

Policy Review and Updates

This policy will be reviewed annually by the Editorial Board of ALCHEMY Jurnal Penelitian Kimia to ensure its continued relevance and alignment with evolving AI technologies, COPE guidance, and international standards of scholarly publishing.

The journal reserves the right to revise the policy in response to developments in research integrity, publication ethics, data protection, or AI-assisted scientific practices.

Any approved revisions will be published on the journal's official website and will take effect from the date of publication, unless otherwise specified.

Authorship and Contributorship

To enhance transparency in scholarly publishing, ALCHEMY Jurnal Penelitian Kimia encourages authors to clearly specify the contributions made by each co-author using the CRediT (Contributor Roles Taxonomy) framework. This framework provides standardized terminology for describing individual contributions to scholarly research, as outlined below.

Each author's name or initials should be followed by the specific roles they performed. This contribution statement will be included in the published article. At least one author should be designated as the guarantor, accepting overall responsibility for the integrity of the work from its inception to publication.

Example:

FR: Conceptualization, Methodology, Software; TES: Data Curation, Writing – Original Draft; HR: Visualization, Investigation; DLA: Supervision; SDM: Software, Validation; YH: Writing – Review & Editing.

These role descriptions explain how contributions are reported. The criteria for qualifying as an author, approval and accountability duties, prohibited forms of authorship, and procedures for authorship changes are described in Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement.

Changes to Authorship

Requests to add or remove authors, change the author order, or change the corresponding author must include a written justification and the agreement of all affected authors, including those being added or removed. All changes are subject to editorial approval. Please complete the Authorship Change Request Form and submit it to the editorial office for consideration.

Individuals who contributed to the research but do not meet the criteria for authorship, including those providing technical assistance, funding support, general supervision, or scholarly discussion, should be acknowledged in a dedicated Acknowledgments section.

The full names and affiliations of acknowledged individuals must be provided. Authors are responsible for informing these individuals and obtaining their consent before including their names. Where research groups or institutions have contributed collectively, such as clinical investigators or supporting organizations, their contributions should be briefly described.

Any assistance provided by artificial intelligence (AI) tools, including large language models used for drafting, editing, or improving manuscript content, must be explicitly disclosed in the manuscript.

AI tools cannot be credited as authors. Human authors remain fully responsible for the originality, accuracy, integrity, and ethical compliance of all submitted content, including any material generated or modified with AI assistance.

Permitted AI uses and the required declaration are detailed in AI Tools Usage Policy in Article Preparation, while financial and non-financial competing-interest disclosures are addressed in Conflict of Interest. Errors in published authorship or disclosure information should be considered under Correction and Retraction.

Advertising Policy

ALCHEMY Jurnal Penelitian Kimia establishes this advertising policy to regulate any advertising or sponsorship activities related to the journal in order to safeguard the credibility of its scientific content.

Editorial Independence

All advertisements and sponsored content are entirely independent of editorial decisions. The editorial board does not endorse any products, services, or organizations advertised in connection with the journal. Editorial content is never influenced by commercial or financial interests.

The institutional arrangements supporting editorial independence are described in Ownership and Management. The ethical responsibilities of editors and the publisher are explained further in Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement.

Acceptance of Advertising

• The journal reserves the right to decline or remove any advertisement that is misleading, inappropriate, or harmful to the reputation of ALCHEMY Jurnal Penelitian Kimia.
• Advertisements for products or services that are detrimental to health (e.g., tobacco, alcohol, or hazardous substances) will not be accepted.
• Advertisements must be accurate, verifiable, and clearly identify the advertiser and the product or service being promoted.

Distinction Between Advertising and Editorial Content

• All advertisements are clearly distinguished from editorial content.
• Advertisements will be labeled as “Advertisement” or “Sponsored Content.”
• Sponsored issues or supplements must be clearly identified and peer reviewed to the same standards as regular articles.

Transparency and Separation

• Advertisements must be clearly distinguishable from editorial content. The journal does not publish advertorials.
• Sponsored supplements, if accepted, must be clearly indicated as such. If the peer-review process differs from the standard procedure, this will be explicitly disclosed.

Conflict of Interest

All authors, reviewers, and editorial members are required to disclose any potential conflicts of interest. Advertising and sponsorship will not influence editorial judgment, peer review, or publication decisions.

Definitions of competing interests and the disclosure and recusal requirements are provided in the Conflict of Interest policy.

Placement and Display

Advertisers are not permitted to target ads to specific articles or pages where the content directly relates to the product or service being advertised. The journal prohibits keyword-linked targeting or article-specific advertising.

Data Privacy and Reader Protection

• The journal does not share personal or contact data of authors, reviewers, or readers with advertisers without consent.
• Advertisers must comply with applicable data protection laws (PDP Law, GDPR, etc.).
• Tracking technologies used in online advertisements must be disclosed and lawful.

Prohibition of Misleading or Claims

• Advertisements must not make false claims about journal impact, indexing, or reputation.
• The journal prohibits ads for predatory journals, fake metrics, or fraudulent conferences.
• Claims regarding impact factors or rankings must use verifiable and current data.

Handling of Complaints and Withdrawal

Any advertisement may be withdrawn at any time if deemed inappropriate by the Editors-in-Chief or the Publisher. Complaints regarding advertisements should be addressed to the editorial office at alchemy@mipa.uns.ac.id.

For the general procedures for assessment, independent handling, and appeals concerning editorial conduct, see Complaints and Appeals. These procedures complement the advertising-specific withdrawal provisions stated here.

No Third-Party Influence

The journal does not allow external advertising arrangements that compromise independence. ALCHEMY may, however, receive institutional or non-profit support, which will be disclosed transparently to readers.

Review and Amendment

This advertising policy is subject to periodic review and may be revised to ensure alignment with the principles of integrity, impartiality, and transparency.

By adopting this policy, ALCHEMY Jurnal Penelitian Kimia ensures that its scholarly content remains credible, unbiased, and free from inappropriate commercial influence.

Ownership and Management

This journal is published by Universitas Sebelas Maret. The journal is committed to maintaining high standards of academic integrity, ethical publishing, transparency, and operational sustainability in accordance with international best practices in scholarly publishing.

This journal upholds full editorial independence. All editorial decisions are based solely on scholarly merit, including originality, scientific quality, relevance, clarity, and compliance with publication ethics. Editorial decisions are made independently by the Editor-in-Chief and editorial team without interference from the publisher or external parties.

The respective ethical responsibilities of the publisher, editors, reviewers, and authors are described in Publication Ethics and Malpractice Statement. The separation of advertising, sponsorship, and editorial decisions is detailed in the Advertising Policy, while disclosure and recusal requirements are provided in the Conflict of Interest policy.

Complaints involving the publisher or an editor, including concerns requiring independent assessment, should follow the procedures in Complaints and Appeals. These procedures support the editorial independence and accountability described here.

Journal Licensing

ALCHEMY Jurnal Penelitian Kimia is an open-access journal. All published articles are distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International (CC BY-NC 4.0) license.

This license permits users to:

• Share — Copy and redistribute the material in any medium or format.
• Adapt — Remix, transform, and build upon the material.

These permissions are granted under the following terms:

• Attribution — Users must give appropriate credit to the original author(s), provide a link to the license, and indicate whether changes were made. Attribution must not imply endorsement by the author(s), journal, or copyright holder.
• NonCommercial — Users may not use the material for commercial purposes.
• No Additional Restrictions — Users may not apply legal terms or technological measures that legally restrict others from exercising the permissions granted by the license.

The license allows unrestricted access, reading, downloading, sharing, and non-commercial adaptation of published articles, provided that the applicable license conditions are fulfilled.

Copyright ownership remains with Universitas Sebelas Maret, while the license grants readers and other users the permissions specified above.

For further information, please refer to the CC BY-NC 4.0 License.