Carbon-Oxalate (C-Ox) Practicum Waste as an Adsorbent Material Candidate in the Chemistry Laboratory

Abstract

This study aims to treat carbon and oxalate practicum waste as an adsorbent material candidate in the Chemistry Laboratory. Practicum waste was used to synthesise carbon-oxalate (C-Ox) by using wet (C-OxW) and semi-wet (C-OxDs) impregnation methods. The products were tested by SEM and FTIR. The adsorption was tested by contacting each 1 gram of C-Ox with various concentrations of chromium ions waste for 24 hours while shaking. The filtrate was measured by AAS. The data obtained were compared with standard activated carbon (CC) as control and analyzed with Freundlich and Langmuir isotherm equations. The results showed that C-Ox can be used as an adsorbent in the chemistry laboratory. Based on the SEM test, the pores of C-OxW were seen to be most than C-OxDs and CC. Adsorption of chromium ions of C-OxW and C-OxDs were more effective than CC. C-Ox test by FTIR showed very sharp wavenumbers appeared at 3674.5 and 3705.41 cm^-1 for the hydroxyl groups; 1697.4 cm^-1 for C=O; and 1141.8 cm^-1 for C-O. The determination coefficient (R²) of Freundlich isotherm of CC and C-Ox were higher than Langmuir isotherm, and on the other hand, R² of C-OxDs was shown oppositely.