The potency of palm kernel shell as an adsorbent for water purification Kusuma Faisal Muhammad (a*), Widya Dwi Rukmi Putri (b), Mochammad Nur (b)
a) Agricultural Product Technology Study Program, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya
*kusumafaisal[at]student.ub.ac.id
b) Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya
Abstract
The palm kernel shell (PKS) is the endocarp of the oil palm fruit that protects the kernel of the oil palm crops. PKS is a by-product of separating the kernel of the palm kernel shell. This by-product tends to be used as a solid biofuel because of its tiny size and high carbon content. Meanwhile, the need for clean water in Indonesia grows year after year. The increased production of clean water is accompanied by the use lot of chemicals as water purification medium. PKS is lignocellulosic biomass with a lot of potential because of its characteristics and contents, including the use of materials as adsorbents. These materials have various functional groups that stimulate hydrophobic interactions during the adsorption process, such as ion exchange. In addition, the adsorption mechanism of lignocellulosic materials can occur due to complexation and chelation between the materials and adsorbate. PKS has been evaluated and shown to be useful in dealing with heavy metal pollution. The use of activated carbon-based on PKS as an adsorbent has also been intensively investigated such as using various activation techniques including acid activation and steam activation at high temperatures. Many treatments, optimizations, and varied lignocellulosic contents from PKS with different varieties have been used in research on adsorbents for water purification from heavy metals. There will be variances in their adsorption capability and adsorption process due to differences in structural properties and functional groups, as well as originating from different biomass sources with different varieties.
Keywords: Palm kernel shell- adsorbent- lignocellulosic materials- water purification
