Synthesis and Characterization of Mg(OH)2-Impregnated Activated Carbon Adsorbent from Coconut Shell

Introducing or impregnating Mg(OH)2 onto activated carbon is a promising path for wastewater treatment of uptake (removal) uranium from aqueous solution. The present study aims to synthesize and characterize Mg(OH)­2-impregnated activated carbon from coconut shell. The introducing or impregnating Mg(OH)2 into treated biochar by activation method using various impregnation ratio (IR) of MgCl2 (IR = 0.5; 1.0; 2.0). Characterization of functional groups in produced activated carbon was conducted with the aid of FTIR spectroscopy. The presence of O-H or Mg(hydroxyl) bond was confirmed by FTIR analysis at 3343.50 cm-1 with the highest intensity of the obtained peak at impregnation ratio (IR) 2.0. Due to the surface area is one of the important factors that control a material’s ability to adsorb contaminations, the surface area of activated carbon was measured about 353-358 m2/g by BET method. To indicate that introducing or impregnating Mg(OH)2 or Mg(hydroxyl) into treated carbon is successfully work, the presence of Mg (%w) in activated carbon was performed using X-Ray Fluorescence Analysis with the highest Mg presence about 28.587 (%w) at impregnation ratio (IR) 2.0.
Keywords: Activated Carbon, Impregnation, FTIR, BET, XRF.