PENGARUH LAMA WAKTU AKTIVASI DAN KONSENTRASI ASAM FOSFAT TERHADAP MUTU ARANG AKTIF KULIT KAYU ACACIA MANGIUM

Abstract

This study was carried out to investigate the influences of activation times and concentrations of chemical activators on the quality and yield of activated charcoal of Acacia mengium Bark. The activated charcoal was produced in a O stainless steel retort with electrical heater at the activation temperature of 750 C and activation times of 30, 60 and 90 minutes, consecutively. Phosphoric acid (H PO) was used as an activator agent with the concentrations of 0.0; 5,0; 10,0 3 4 and 15,0%, consecutively. The result showed that the optimum condition for producing the best activated charcoal for water purification was obtained with the concentration of H PO solution of 10.0%, and activation time of 60 minute. This optimum condition 3 4 produced the activated charcoal yield of 98.20%, containing moisture content of 8.39%, ash content of 26.70%, volatile matter of 8.72%, fixed carbon of 64.60%, iodine adsorptive capacity of 513 mg/g, and benzene adsorptive capacity of 16.10%. Based on the adsorptive capacity of iodine, the activated charcoal from Acacia mangium Bark is good to be used for water purification.