Iron Metal Ion Adsorption Capacity on Palm Oil Mill Effluent (POME) Using Montmorillonite Adsorbent

Abstract

Palm oil mill effluent (POME) is the most produced waste among other types of waste, which is around 60% in every 100% processing of fresh fruit bunches containing heavy metals, namely ferrous metal (Fe). Montmorillonite (MMT) is one of the best adsorbents used to reduce the concentration of Fe in POME. In addition, this mineral (MMT) also has a high cation fertilization capacity so that the space between layers of MMT is able to accommodate large amounts of cations and make MMT a unique material. In this review, the assurance of the mass variety of the MMT as adsorbent and the variety of the contact time on the adsorption capacity of Fe metal in POME was resolved utilizing a Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometer (AAS) and surface morphology analysis of MMT before and after adsorption using Scanning Electron Microscope (SEM). Based on the results of AAS analysis, the greater the mass of the adsorbent, the higher the amount of Fe adsorbed from the POME. Moreover, the longer the contact time between MMT and Fe, the higher the amount of Fe in the palm oil mill effluent adsorbed on the adsorbent surface. The best adsorption conditions occurred at an adsorbent mass of 8.5 g MMT in 50 mL adsorbate and a contact time of 5 hours with an adsorption capacity of 0.0383 mg/g. The results of the SEM showed the presence of empty spaces in the MMT before adsorption, in which after adsorption white granules occupies the empty spaces evenly on the surface of the MMT. The granules indicate the presence of Fe metals in the POME samples which are adsorbed on the MMT surface.