Abstract:
Palm shells (Elaeis gueneensis Jacq.) is one of the materials that can be used as a good
raw material for making active charcoal. Active charcoal can be used as an adsorbent
for metals, non-metals and organic compounds. In this research, the potential of active
charcoal from palm shell was seen from its ability to adsorb Escherichia coli with the
continuous method. This study aims to determine the activator concentration and
optimum grain size for adsorption of palm shell activated charcoal against E.coli. The
activated palm shell charcoal used is charcoal with grain sizes of 30, 50 and 100 mesh.
Surface area, pore volume, and pore radius were analyzed using a surface area
analyzer with the BET-BJH method. Palm shell charcoal morphology was analyzed
using SEM. Based on the results of the BET obtained surface area of 16.174 m2/g, a
pore radius of 2.1763 nm, and a pore volume of 8.8 x 10-3 cc/g. The optimum
conditions of adsorption were obtained at the optimum grain size of 50 mesh with an
average amount of E.coli adsorbed is 9.17 x 108 cells/mL and the E.coli adsorption
percentage is 84.67%.
