Pemanfaatan Arang Aktif Tempurung Kelapa Sawit dan Tongkol Jagung sebagai Adsorben Logam Berat pada Limbah Batik

Abstract

Heavy metals in wastewater of batik industry dumped into the environment can cause pollution and decrease the quality of waters. Using activated carbon as the adsorbent is one way to reduce the heavy metals level in the wastewater. In this study, the activated carbons were prepared from palm shell and corn cobs. The activation was done through 2 methods, i.e. chemical activation (KOH 30% immersion) and physical activation (steamed). The result showed that the best activated carbon was prepared using KOH 30% treatment, giving 10.7% moisture content, 14.6% volatile matter, 18.1% ash, 67.1%bound carbon, 20.9% benzene adsorption, 121.0 mg/g methylene blue adsorption, and 584.5 mg/g iodine adsorption. The optimum adsorption of heavy metal was obtained in 90 minutes contact time using 1.0 g adsorbent. The activated carbon originated from corncob with KOH 30% treatment was capable to reduce iron and copper up to 63.32% and 79.25%, respectively.