UPAYA PENURUNAN KADAR MERKURI DALAM MEDIA AIR MENGGUNAKAN ADSORBEN 2-MERCAPTOBENZOTHIAZOLE (MBT)–LEMPUNG AKTIF

The objective of thus research was to make adsorbent 2-Mercapto-benzothiazole (MBT) – active clay used to reduce mercury content in water medium. Firstly, this research was run by soakingin a solution ofHClbentonite, NH4NO3solutionandthen followed byheating attwodifferent temperatures(120° Cand 400° C). The next step was pillarization process by soakingthe bentonitefor 18hoursin solution ofAlCl3that have previously beenaddedwith 0.1 M NaOHAtthe final stage ofthe pillarization process, bentonitewas heatedat a temperature of120 oCand 400oC. After that, the bentonite was analyzed ability of adsorption by metilen blue solution. The test resultswith methylenebluewas takenas a basisfor determiningthe next stage, which wasthe process ofimpregnation MBT at various concentrations(6%, 8%, and 10%). The adsorbentof impregnationwas usedto adsorb Hgat various concentrations(0.1 to 0.5 ppm) for determininghis ability asadsorbent. The results showedthat thedifference inthe heating temperatureonclay(bentonite) affect theabsorbanceof themethyleneblue. Treatment ofbentonite(metal reduction, pillarizationon twodifferent temperatures) effected onX-ray diffractionpattern. MBT-adsorption capacityof theactivatedclaysobservedthroughthis studyhas not beensuccessfullydetermined,so we needfurthereffortsto find out.