Proses Produksi Karbon Aktif dari Cangkang Kelapa Sawit dengan Menggunakan NaCl Sebagai Aktivator untuk Menghasilkan Arang Aktif Berpori Luas

Abstract

This study was aimed to produce activated carbon from pal shells with NaCl as activator. Activated carbon was produced by using Sodium Chloride (NaCl) as an activator. Palm shells that had been produced with a hammer mill were sieved with a 12 mesh sieve then soaked with various concentration of NaCl solution 15,20 and 25 % wt. The sample solution was heated over a water bath at a temperature of 70 o C and continued with the drying process at a constant temperature of 105 oC. The activated shells were continued with the pyrolysis process at temperatures of 300, 400 and 500oC for 3 hours. The activated carbon obtained from the pyrolysis process was weighed and then washed using hot distilled water. The samples obtained were dried in an oven at a temperature of 105 oC for 24 hours. The results were analyzed for iodine number using the iodometric titration method, surface area using the Brunauer-Emmett – Teller (BET) method and pore structure using the Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM) method. The results showed that the best yield was 42,13% obtained at 15% NaCl concentration and a pyrolysis temperature of 300 oC. The best iodine value was 767.75 mg/g at 15% NaCl concentration and pyrolysis temperatur at 400 o C. The optmimum surface area of activated carbon obtained 6,790 m2/g, pore volume was 4,377 cc/g with a pore size of 9,781 A. Activated carbon from palm shell can be used in the removal iron from ground water. The optimum removal efficiency obtained 78,92%.