PENGARUH METODE AKTIVASI PADA KEMAMPUAN KAOLIN SEBAGAI ADSORBEN BESI (FE) AIR SUMUR GARUDA

Kaolin is a mineral found in sedimentary rocks known as clay stone. Kaolin widely applied in industries such as paper, ceramics, rubber, plastics, paint, glassfiber, and cosmetics. This study aimed to determine the effect on the ability of kaolin activation methods as adsorbent. The study was conducted by activation of kaolin in physics, chemistry, and chemistry-physics. Physical activation was done by heating kaolin at 700 ° C in a furnace for 30 minutes and for the chemical activation, the addition of 0.25 M HCl in kaolin with stirring speed of 200 rpm for 60 minutes, while the chemical-physical activation, the addition of 0.25 M HCl to the kaolin and continued warming in furnace at 700 ° C. The kaolin activation was to produce an adsorbent that is able to absorb iron (Fe) optimally. From this study, the optimum activation obtained for kaolin in adsorbing Fe is the chemical activation. Chemical activated kaolin adsorbent having a large adsorption capacity of the ion Fe which resulted in decreased content of iron (Fe) to 0.04 mg / L.