Co/ACTIVATED CARBON FROM PARASERIANTHES FALCATARIA AS A GREEN CATALYSTS FOR PLASTIC WASTE PYROLISIS

Abstract

Sengon wood (Paraserianthes falcataria) is widely used in the sawmill industry. It produces waste that has not received proper handling, furthermore, innovations are needed to solve this problem, as an example as a precursor for catalyst material. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize a Co/activated carbon as a catalyst for LDPE pyrolysis. The method used is the carbonization and activation of sengon wood at 400°C and 800°C using steam, respectively. Carbon was then impregnated with 5% Co(NO3)2·6H2O. Catalyst evaluation was carried out through proximate analysis, benzene adsorption, iodine number, methylene blue adsorption, and catalyst acidity. Functional group content, morphology, crystal phase, and surface area were analyzed using FTIR, SEM-EDX, XRD, and SAA. For application, the ratio of feed: catalyst is 1:1;1:5; and 1:10. The results showed that the quality of activated carbon was 90% close to Indonesian National Standard quality. The catalyst acidity was 10,555 mmol/g with a metal crystal size of 0.56nm. Surface morphology had opened pores with the pore size, pore volume, and surface area of 2.69 nm, 0.263 cm3/g, and 329.99 m2/g respectively. LDPE cracking using a catalyst resulted in aliphatic, aromatic, and alicyclic hydrocarbon products of 48.86, 15.26, and 12.55%. Co/activated carbon catalyst has an excellent prospect for use as an LDPE cracking catalyst as a green chemical application.