Use of Silica Gel from Volcanic Ash as Chitosan Composite Membrane’s Filler

Abstract

This study aims to determine the process of making composite membranes of chitosan and silica fillers from volcanic ash of Sinabung mountain and determine the physical properties of chitosan composite membranes viz. degree of water absorption, functional groups. In this study, composite membranes were made using phase inversion method with the composition of chitosan and silica used were 2 g of chitosan and variations in dosage of fillers 0.6, 0.9 and 1.2 g of silica, while the stirring time was 8, 12 and 16 h. Based on the results , the best membrane conditions were obtained from composite membrane analysis with the best conditions of composite membranes at water absorption is 44.58 %. From the results of FTIR analysis, indicated the presence of OH bonds and Si-O-Si bonds on composite membranes caused by silica gel characteristics of composite membranes also supported by EDX analysis showed composite membrane contained carbon 55.17 %, oxygen 20.36 % and silicon 10.42 %.