Activation of Coconut Shell Charcoal and Application for Bleaching Used Cooking Oil

Abstract

This study aimed to determine coconut shell-activated charcoal's ability in the bleaching process of waste cooking oil. Activation of coconut shell charcoal was carried out by using 5 N H2SO4 solution. Activated charcoal was performed through a pyrolysis process at a temperature of 350 ⁰C for 1 hour. The experiment was carried out in four stages: activation of activated charcoal, testing the characteristics of activated charcoal, bleaching waste cooking oil, and testing the characteristics of waste cooking oil. Parameters of moisture content, ash content, and iodine absorption rate were studied as the characteristics of activated charcoal. Meanwhile, parameters of water content, specific gravity, and color test were studied as the characteristics of waste cooking oil. The experimental results showed that the characteristics of activated charcoal: ash content, water content, and iodine absorption were 2.4% – 2.8%, 0.5% – 1%, and 371,896 – 548,745 mg/g respectively. While the characteristics of waste cooking oil: water content, specific gravity, absorbance were 0.493% – 0.503%, 0.888% – 0.892%, and 0.001 – 0.006. The results of this study were standardized by using the Indonesian National Standard Method (SNI) with results show that 40 mesh of activated charcoal is better than 20 mesh