Abstract:
Husk from Nypa fruticans Wurmb. can be used as an adsorbent. Nypa husk contains many
subtances such as cellulose, hemicellulose and lignin that produced carbon. Purpose of
this study is to optimize the carbonization temperature and radiation time in activated
carbon preparation. In preparation of carbon, it used carbonization method and physical
activation method chosed for activation process by microwave power of 600 Watts.
Optimum condition from non activated carbon based on carbonization process was at
5000C produced water content of 2.54%, ash content of 9.30%, iod adsorption of 531.1629
mg/g, metilen blue adsorption of 9.3435 mg/g, and surface area of 34.6431 m2/g.
Optimum condition from activated carbon based on microwave activation process was at
10 minutes. The results showed that the radiation time were 0.99% of water content,
7.16%, of ash content, 526.9619 mg/g of iod adsorption, 8.2779 mg/g of metilen blue
adsorption, and 30.6922 m2/g of surface area, respectively. It concluded that activated
carbon form nypa husk was generally poor because the activation process decreased the
ability of adsorption iod, methylene blue and surface area. It proved that the number of iod
adsorption, methylene blue adsorption and surface area before activation process were
higher than the activation process.