Purification local salt in Aceh Timur regency using alkaline (KOH and NaOH) activated bentonite

The various purification methods have been developed to improve the quality local salt, the NaCl content > 94%. Bentonite is one of materials used as binder impurities in purification. The purpose of the study was to synthesis a modified bentonite using alkaline solution, which includes natrium hydroxide (NaOH) and potassium hydroxide (KOH) with various concentrations (1, 1.5, 2, and 2.5 M) and determined level of Na+, Ca2+ and Mg2+ metals using AAS. The bentonite and activating agent 1 M (1:10) were stirred for three hours. Then, the bentonite was dried for two hours in an oven at 110?C. The activated bentonite was dried for four hours at 170?C. The activated bentonite was characterized using analytical techniques, such as XRD, FTIR, and SEM. The basal spacing d001 on the diffractogram bentonite was significantly unaffected by alkaline activation. FTIR analysis represents the stretching vibration of -OH shifts towards a lower wavenumber. Alkaline activation reduced impurities from bentonite and increase the pore surface's porosity. NaCl levels in people's salt increased after being activated using alkaline. The increase in Na+ levels was followed by decrease content of Ca2+ and Mg2+ metals. KOH-activated bentonite had a higher NaCl level than NaOH-activated bentonite.