Karakterisasi Limbah Abu Batubara (Fly Ash dan Bottom Ash) untuk Pemanfaatan dalam Bidang Pertanian

Abstract

The use of coal as a fuel would produce solid waste such as fly ash and bottom ash which haven’t been widely used especially in agricultural sector. This is because government regulation No. 85th (1999), coal ash waste classified as hazardous waste. The objective of this research was to study the characteristic of coal ash waste from two different sources, as the basis for the utilization for agricultural sector development. The characteristic test of coal ash waste done through with several chemical analysis namely total chemical analysis, analysis of heavy metals content by TCLP (Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Prosedure) which refers to the USEPA (1992), pH (H20 1:5), and solubility of macro and micro nutrients. The total chemical showed that fly ash and bottom ash contain several nutrients so that it could be used as an amelioran. In addition fly ash and bottom ash also contain Pb, Cd, Cu, Zn, Cr, and Hg. However, TCLP test showed that the heavy metal content of fly ash from PLTU Nagan Raya and PT. Pupuk Kaltim were lower than the standard of TCLP according to USEPA (1992) and government regulation No. 85th (1999). The result of the pH measurement showed that the coal ash from the PLTU Nagan Raya, Aceh was alkaline in that pH value of fly ash and bottom ash were 8.9 and 8.0 respectively. While the pH value of fly ash from PT. Kaltim was 5.1. The results of the solubility test generally showed that the Ca and Mg elements were higher than that of K, Na, Fe and Mn. Moreover, there were other elements including Cu, Zn, Pb and Cd found in low concentration.