ADSORPTION OF PHENOL POLLUTANTS FROM AQUEOUS SOLUTION USING Ca-BENTONITE/CHITOSAN COMPOSITE (Adsorpsi Polutan Fenol dari Larutan Berair Menggunakan Komposit Ca-Bentonit/Kitosan)

Abstract

Phenoli c compounds are organic pollutant s that are toxic and car c inogenic.The presence of phenol in the environment can be adverse to human and the environmental system. One method that is effective to reduce the phenol is adsorption. In this study, the adsorption of phenol in aqueous solution using Ca-bentonite/chitosan composite was investigated. Chitosan is the deacetylation product of chitin from shrimp waste . Characterization of Ca-bentonite/chitosan composite was done by using Fourier Transform Infra r ed (FTIR) and Scanning Electron Microscopy - Energy Dispersive X Ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDX). Batch adsorption studies were performed to evaluate the effects of some parameters such as initial concentration of phenol, composite weight, pH and contact time. The result s show ed that FTIR spectra of Ca-bentonit e /chitosan composite presented the characteristic of peak of Ca-bentonite and chitosan that confirmed the successful sy n thesis of composite . The SEM-EDX characterization results showed Ca-bentonite surface coverage by chitosan and the presence of carbon and nitrogen elements in Ca-bentonite/chitosan composite indicate d that chitosan had bonded with bentonite. The optimum condition of adsorption of Ca-bentonite/chitosan to phenol w as obtained at 125 mg . L -1 of concentration in which the weight of composite was 1 .0 g, the pH of solution was 7 , the contact time was 30 minutes, and the capacity of adsorption was 12.496 mg . g -1 .