Penggunaan ZnCl2 sebagai Aktivator Karbon Aktif dari Limbah Padat Agar dan Aplikasinya sebagai Adsorben pada Limbah Cair Industri Tahu

Abstract

Agar solid waste is a material that has the potential as a raw material for activated carbon. This waste contains high value of cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin. The study aims to determine the best concentration of ZnCl2 and best activation time on activation step and to determine the effectiveness of the using of activated carbon as adsorbent for tofu wastewater treatment. The activation step was carried out with ZnCl2 concentration of 10; 20; 30% and activation time of 15; 20; 25 hours. The best activation treatment was obtained from the treatment of 10% ZnCl2 concentration and 25 hours of activation time with activated carbon’s yield 96.24%, moisture content 1.12%, ash 85.68%, volatile matter 10.16%, carbon yield 4.25% and absorption of iodine 579.12 mg/g. Activated carbon from the best treatment applied to tofu wastewater treatment with activated carbon levels of 0; 1; 2; 3% and contact period of 0.5; 1; 1.5; 2 hours. Application treatment with activated carbon level of 3% and 1 hour contact period decreased the value of BOD, TSS and pH from 3485.77 mg/L, 4249.38 mg/L, 681.33 mg/L and 4.68 to 1269.82 mg/L, 72 mg/L dan 4.09 significantly, however it did not affect the COD value.