CHARACTERISTICS OF ACTIVATED CARBON FROM OIL PALM FRONDS USING DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACTIVATORS AT OPTIMUM CONCENTRATIONS

Abstract

Oil palm fronds were one of the plantation wastes that could be utilized as raw material for producing activated carbon. Activated carbon was produced through carbonization and activation processes. This study aimed to obtain the best type of activator in the production of activated carbon from oil palm fronds. The study was conducted experimentally using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with five treatments and three replications. The treatments in this study were P₁ (NaOH 2.5%), P₂ (KOH 15%), P₃ (H₃PO₄ 9%), P₄ (H₂SO₄ 10%), and P₅ (HCl 15%). The observed parameters consisted of moisture content, ash content, volatile matter, fixed carbon, and iodine adsorption. The data were analyzed statistically using the analysis of variance, if Fcount ≥ Ftable then the treatment had a significant effect and the analysis continued with Duncan's Multiple Range Test (DMRT) at the level of 5%. The results showed that the type of activator had a significant effect on all observation parameters. Activated carbon with the best treatment was found on P₄ treatment (H₂SO₄ 10%) with a moisture content of 0.49%, ash content of 1.10%, volatile matter content of 2.10%, fixed carbon content of 96.31%, and iodine absorption of 854.46 mg/g.