Effectiveness of Mineral Zeolite and Activated Carbon in Lowering the pH Level of Sidomulyo Batik Industry Effluent in Batu City Moch. Abdul Rachman1, Ridho Arief Al Rasyid1, Muhammad Alif Syibli1, Naufal Maarif2
1 SMAS AR ROHMAH DAU, 65151, Malang, Jawa Timur
2 Program Studi Biologi, FMIPA, Universitas Brawijaya, Jl. Veteran, Malang 65145, Jawa Timur
Abstract
Liquid waste represents a significant global issue that disrupts the equilibrium of aquatic ecosystems. Liquid waste from batik processing constitutes a significant source of liquid waste in Indonesia. This liquid waste poses significant hazards due to its composition, which may include synthetic dyes characterized by complex aromatic chemical structures. This study evaluates the effectiveness of zeolite minerals and activated carbon in reducing the pH value of wastewater from the Sidomulyo batik industry in Batu City, which contains hazardous synthetic dyes. The adsorption method was employed, varying the adsorbent mass (0, 5, 10, 25 grams) and maintaining a contact time of 6 hours. A soil pH meter with an accuracy of (Plus-min)0.5 was utilized to monitor pH changes. The findings indicated that neither adsorbent significantly altered the effluent pH (variations of (plus-min) 0.2), although both were effective in decreasing contaminants, specifically heavy metals (zeolite) and organic compounds (activated carbon). Furthermore, mass variation did not significantly affect pH, likely due to the adsorption process prioritizing the binding of specific pollutants over H(plus) ions. The performance of zeolite and activated carbon in maintaining pH stability is comparable, as both materials function optimally within specific pH ranges. This study advocates for the utilization of a high-accuracy pH meter to enhance analytical precision and suggests the activation of the adsorbent with acid when a targeted pH reduction is necessary.
Keywords: Zeolite, activated carbon, batik waste, pH, organic contaminants.
