Abstract:
Palm shell charcoal (Elaeis guineensis Jacq.) has the potential to be used as an
adsorbent to adsorb Escherichia coli (E. coli), however its adsorption efficiency is
relatively small. Therefore, to increase its adsorption efficiency in this study palm
shell charcoal will be activated with ZnCl2 to adsorb E. coli with the batch method.
The aim of this study was to analyze the concentration of ZnCl2 activator variation
palm shell on the adsorb E. coli. Palm shell charcoal is made through a
carbonization process at a temperature of 400oC for 2 hour, then crushed at size that
that passes 50 mesh and is retained in 100 mesh. Charcoal were activated using zinc
chloride (ZnCl2) with the concentration of ZnCl2 activator variation 0.5 M, 1 M, 1.5
M, and 2 M. Surface area, pore volume, along pore radius was analyzed using a
surface area analyzer using the BET method. Surface morphology using SEM
instrument. Based on the results of the BET obtained surface area of 16.1740 m2/g,
a pore radius of 2.1763 nm, and a pore volume of 8.8 × 10-3 cc/g. The optimum
adsorption conditions with the batch method were obtained at the optimum
concentration of ZnCl2 activator of 1.5 M with an average amount of E. coli
adsorbed of 5.13 × 108 cells/mL in 1 g of activated carbon or adsorption efficiency
of E. coli of 81.95%.
