Abstract:
Palm frond (PS) biomass has been extensively studied as a precursor of activated carbon
with wide choice of chemical and physical activation methods. This research aimed to
study the characters of activated carbon obtained from the physical activation process
below the effect of microwave irradiation power to oil palm frond biomass. Activated
carbon was synthesized by carbonization of PS in the muffle furnace at a temperature of
600oC for 60 minutes at the first, to obtain palm frond charcoal (APS). The APS was
crushed and sieved with a particle size of 100≤ x ≤ 200 (mesh), followed at second step
by chemical activation using KOH with a weight ratio of charcoal and KOH (g/g) 1:1 in
100 mL demineralized water at 100oC of temperature for 6 hours and rotation speed of
300 rpm. Activation proceeded physically in the microwave for 5 minutes with various
power of 100 W (A5D100), 200 W (A5D200) and 300 W(A5D300), respectively. All of
the samples were neutralized using 1 M HCl to pH 7, and excess of chloride anion were
washed by demineralized water. Activated carbon is characterized based on SNI No. 06-
3730-1995 includes: water content, ash content and iodine adsorption capacity. At the
same time the yield of activated carbon was also determined. The results showed that the
relationship between APS and the variation of microwave power was obtained by
decreasing the yield and adsorption capacity of iodine while the moisture and ash content
increased. Variations in microwave power affect the quality of activated carbon, the
higher the microwave power given, the lower the yield, water content and iodine
absorption, but the ash content increases. Overall the water content, ash and adsorption
capacity of iodine in A5D100, A5D200 and A5D300 met the quality requirements of
activated carbon according to SNI 06-3730-1995. Based on the carbon samples that have
been characterized, it shows that A5D100 is the best activated carbon because it has all
the maximum test characters.
