Abstract:
In the present day, the industry is growing rapidly. Every process in the industries brings out pollution.
Heavy metals, especially iron ions have contaminated water resources due to industrial activity. The high
concentration of iron ions is dangerous for human life. To solve this issue an activated carbon from sago
pith waste was developed to remove iron ions from industrial wastewater represented by artificial iron
solution. The objective of this research is to measure the adsorption capacity of sago pith waste activated
carbon (SPWAC) for treating artificial iron solution. The adsorbent was carbonized at 300 C and 80 min.
Further, it was activated by citric acid 0.1 M. The treated iron solution was analyzed by condutometer to
examine the iron content. Subsequently, the functional groups of SPWAC were tested via Fourier
Transform Infra-Red (FTIR). The result indicates that the SPWAC can reject iron ions of more than 80 %
with an iron ions concentration of 1.81 mg/L at 60 min and 300 rpm. While, FTIR analysis show alkenes,
carbonyl, and hydroxyl groups are present in SPWAC. The iron ions concentration in treated water is
below the allowable threshold (0.3 mg/L) based on World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for
drinking water. Therefore, the SPWAC is promising technology to be applied for treating industrial
wastewater.
