Abstract:
Coconut shell (Cocos nucifera L.) is one of the materials that can be used as a good
raw material for making charcoal. Charcoal can be used as an adsorbent for metals,
non-metals, and organic compounds. In this study, the potential of coconut shell
charcoal was seen from its ability to adsorb E.coli (Escherichia coli). This study
aims to determine the optimum carbonization temperature and contact time of
coconut shell charcoal adsorption of E.coli. The coconut shell charcoal used is
charcoal with a size that passes 50 mesh and is retained in 100 mesh. Surface area,
pore volume, and pore radius were analyzed using a surface area analyzer with the
BET-BJH method. Coconut shell charcoal morphology was analyzed using SEM.
Based on the results of the BET obtained surface area of 12.8057 m2/g, a pore radius
of 1.60979 nm, and a pore volume of 2.5 x 10-3 cc/g. The optimum adsorption
conditions were obtained at the optimum carbonization temperature of 500⁰C and
optimum contact time of 5 hours with an average amount of E.coli adsorbed of 5.68
x 108 cells/mL and adsorption percentage of E.coli of 71.2%.
