Characterization of Activated Carbon Prepare from Low-rank Coal of East Kalimantan by using Acid and Base Activation

Indonesia is one of the countries that has large coal reserves in the world. Low rank coal in Indonesia reached 28.4% of coal reserves, 67,198,300,021 tons/year of low-rank coal production in East Kalimantan. Despite their vast reserves, low-rank coals are considered undesirable because has less economic value; their high moisture content, entails high transportation costs, potential safety hazards in transportation and storage and the low thermal efficiency obtained in combustion of such coals. Besides improving its economic and usage values, processing low-rank coal into activated carbon becomes alternative way of utilization of abundant amount of low-rank coal. The aim of this research is to determine the characteristics of activated carbon produced from low rank coal of East Kalimantan by using acid and base activation with different activators : HCl, H3PO4 and NaOH. Low rank coal which has been prepared -100 +120 mesh is carbonized at 6000C for 3 h, then after cold it was activated using 2.5 M concentration of HCl, H3PO4 and NaOH for 8 h. Furthermore proximate analysis were used to investigate the characteristics of activated carbon produced such as moisture content, ash content, volatile matter and fixed carbon. Meanwhile, the adsorption capacity of activated carbon is determined through the iodine adsorption number. The quality requirements for activated carbon refers to Indonesian National Standard (SNI 06-3730-1995). The best results were obtained by using HCl with activated carbon characteristics such as a moisture content, ash content, volatile matter, fixed carbon and iodine absorption number respectively as follows 5.23%, 11.72%, 8.85%, 74.2% and 660.40 mg/g. Activated carbon is one of the mostly widely used adsorbents. In the treatment of wastewater, it is usually employed for purification, decolorization and the removal of toxic heavy metal ions and organic pollutants.