Utilization of Ketapang Seed Shells in Reducing Pb(NO₃)₂ Metal Levels by Adsorption Process

Abstract

Industrial wastes such as lead metal can cause serious problems because of their toxic nature and can pollute the environment. To reduce levels of lead metal, you can use a natural adsorbent from activated charcoal on the outer shell of ketapang seeds. The ketapang tree is a type of plant that is often found in the surrounding environment because it is used as a shade for the many falling ketapang seeds making waste in the environment to reduce environmental pollution from the falling ketapang can be used as an adsorbent because it contains cellulose and carbon elements. One alternative to reduce lead levels using adsorbents is through the adsorption process which is the process of adsorption of a solid or liquid that involves physical, chemical and electrostatic interactions between the adsorbate and the adsorbent on the surface of the adsorbent. The adsorption process using activated charcoal adsorbent is one of the most frequently used non-polar adsorbents because it has better adsorption power and surface area than other types of adsorbents. This study aims to determine the influencing variables and the optimum condition of the natural adsorbent from the activated charcoal of the outer shell of ketapang seeds on decreasing levels of metal Pb (NO3)2. The research method used is an experimental method with a two-level factorial design. The results showed that the adsorption temperature was the most influential variable in this study with an optimum yield presentation of 66.77%. The activated charcoal produced has a water content of 8%, ash content of 5.2% and an absorption capacity of methylene blue of 698 mg/g.