ADSORPTION OF Cd(II) BY CARBON PREPARED FROM PEELS AND STEMS OF KEPOK BANANA (MUSA PARADISIACA FORMATYPICA)

Carbon was produced from peels and stems of kepok banana and was characterized. Also, its Cd(II) adsorption ability was determined. The carbon material was prepared through two-stage carbonization. First, carbonization was carried out at 400 C for 30 minutes, and then it was continued at 450 C and 500 C for 10 minutes. The results showed that the carbon content obtained after carbonization of banana peels at temperatures of 400 C, 450 C and 500 C was 60.92%, 55.16% and 50.11%, respectively, while that achieved from banana stems was 65.37%, 56.97% and 45.80%, respectively. The moisture content of the carbon prepared from banana peels was 7.01%, 5.37% and 5.28%, respectively, for each temperature level, while that of the carbon material made from banana stems was 4.93%, 4.17% and 3.44%, respectively. The ash content of the banana peel carbon prepared at different temperature levels was 4.56%, 7.23% and 11.04%, respectively, and that of the banana stem carbon was 7.73%, 9.65% and 13.85%, respectively. The highest iodine number of banana peel carbon (450 C) was 1006.74 mg/g, while that of banana stem carbon (450 C) was 1019.43 mg/g. Surface analyses were conducted using scanning electron microscopy -energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS). The Cd(II) adsorbed by the carbon materials was measured using atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS). The results showed that increasing the weight of the adsorbent leads to an increased amount of adsorbed Cd(II).