Pengaruh Konsentrasi Aktivator Asam Fosfat (H3PO4) pada Pembuatan Karbon Aktif dari Sabut Kelapa terhadap Adsorpsi Logam Kromium

Chromium is one of the hazardous heavy metal contained in the industrial wastewater. It can be reduced by various methods, such as adsorption. The purpose of this study was initialized an activated carbon from coconut fiber by various phosphoric acid (H3PO4) activator concentration (0,1M; 0,5M; 1M; 1,5M; 2M) and variation of contact time (30; 60; 90; 120; 150; 180 minutes) to obtain optimum adsorption capacity of chromium. Analysis of the activated coconut fiber carbon by SAA obtained a surface area of 53,39 m2/g. The potassium chromate (K2CrO4) solution was adsorbed by the adsorbent and then analyzed by a UV-VIS Spectrophotometer to measure the chromium content. This study proved that chromium adsorption by activated coconut fiber carbon was increased by the time until reaching optimum condition. Enhancement of adsorption capacity was directly proportional as the more concentrated phosphoric acid activator. Maximum adsorption capacity obtained was 3,464 mg/g and the optimum condition was at contact time of 150 minutes with the phosphoric acid activator concentration of 2M.