Activated Bentonite: Low Cost Adsorbent to Reduce Mercury Content in A Solution

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to find the best activator for bentonite to reduce the mercury content in a solution. Bentonite was activated by HCl, H3PO4, NaCl, ZnCl2, NaOH and KOH use different concentration such as 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5M. Activated bentonite has been characterized by x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscope with energy dispersive spectroscopy and atomic absorption spectrometry. Bentonite characterization showed that bentonite contains kaolinite, montmorillonite, quartz and cristobalite. Activated bentonite has bigger pores than natural bentonite. Atomic absorption spectrometry showed that H3PO4, HCl, NaCl, ZnCl2, NaOH and KOH can reduce the mercury around 99.99, 99.87, 97.48, 9.24, 99.81 and 99.86%. Thus, best activator for activated bentonite as a low-cost adsorbent is H3PO4.