Riza Hudayarizka, Raudiah Tuzzahra Putri, Mochammad Purwanto, Ismi Khairunnissa Ariani

Analysis of the Effect of Chemical Activator Variations on Sengon Wood-Based Activated Carbon for Acid Mine Drainage Filtration

Introduction

Analysis of the effect of chemical activator variations on sengon wood-based activated carbon for acid mine drainage filtration. This study analyzes sengon wood activated carbon for acid mine drainage filtration. Unactivated carbon removed TSS efficiently, but chemical activators were ineffective for Fe/Mn removal.

Abstract

Acid mine drainage is one of the major pollutants generated from coal mining activities, characterized by high concentrations of heavy metals such as Fe and Mn and very low pH levels, making it unsuitable for environmental discharge. This study aims to analyze the effect of different chemical activators (NaOH, H₃PO₄, HCl, and no activator) on the effectiveness of activated carbon made from sengon wood in removing contaminants from acid mine drainage. The carbonization process was carried out at high temperatures, followed by chemical activation and application as filtration media. The results showed that unactivated carbon provided the highest TSS removal efficiency at 65.79% and increased the pH to 2.7. However, all variations of activated carbon were ineffective in removing Fe and Mn, likely due to the low initial pH causing protonation of functional groups on the carbon surface, thus reducing their adsorption capacity. This study indicates that while chemical activation influences the characteristics of activated carbon, it is not yet sufficient for optimal removal of heavy metal pollutants.

Review

This study meticulously investigates the potential of activated carbon derived from sengon wood for the remediation of acid mine drainage (AMD), a critical environmental pollutant. The primary objective was to assess how variations in chemical activators (NaOH, H₃PO₄, HCl, alongside an unactivated control) influence the carbon's efficacy in removing contaminants, particularly heavy metals like Fe and Mn, and total suspended solids (TSS), while also impacting pH levels. The methodology involved a two-stage process of high-temperature carbonization followed by chemical activation, and subsequent application as a filtration medium. The results indicated that the unactivated carbon exhibited the most promising performance for TSS removal, achieving a 65.79% efficiency and increasing the pH to 2.7. Crucially, however, all tested variations of chemically activated carbon were found to be ineffective in removing Fe and Mn, a limitation the authors attribute to the low initial pH of AMD causing protonation of functional groups on the carbon surface, thereby hindering their adsorption capacity. While the research addresses a highly pertinent environmental issue using a sustainable resource, the findings present both noteworthy insights and areas for further elucidation. The superior performance of the unactivated carbon in TSS removal and pH adjustment is an interesting outcome, suggesting that the applied chemical activation methods, under these specific conditions, may not offer benefits for all target pollutants. However, the abstract's assertion of "ineffectiveness" for Fe and Mn removal across all activated carbons lacks specific quantitative data, making it difficult to fully gauge the extent of this limitation. A more detailed characterization of the various activated carbon samples, including specific surface areas, pore size distributions, and point of zero charge (PZC), would significantly bolster the proposed explanation of surface protonation and its impact on adsorption, which currently relies on inference. Furthermore, clarifying the performance of the activated carbons specifically on TSS and pH, relative to the unactivated control, would provide a more complete picture. In conclusion, this study offers valuable preliminary data on the application of sengon wood-based activated carbon for AMD treatment, critically highlighting the inherent challenges of heavy metal removal in highly acidic environments using standard chemical activation. The core contribution lies in demonstrating that a simple variation of activators may not suffice for optimal heavy metal adsorption under such conditions. Future research should prioritize a deeper exploration of activation parameters (e.g., temperature, duration, activator concentration) and consider advanced surface modification techniques specifically designed to enhance heavy metal affinity in acidic media, such as incorporating chelating groups or employing pre-treatment steps to adjust AMD pH. A comprehensive physicochemical characterization of the produced activated carbons will be essential to rationally design more effective adsorbents for this complex pollutant.

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