Methyl orange removal by using activated carbon from Imperata Cylindrica (Cogongrass) leaf: optimization by using Response Surface Methodology

Abstract

The releasing of Methyl Orange (MO) into wastewater brings several threats to human and other living organisms. Therefore, the used of Imperata Cylindrica (cogongrass) leaf as an alternative adsorbent has been studied to evaluate its effectiveness in adsorption of Methyl Orange from wastewater. In this study cogongrass was treated with sodium hydroxide (NaOH). This study highlighted parameters namely contact time, adsorbent dosage, pH, and initial concentration. The characterization of adsorbent was determined by using FT-IR in term of functional group. The experiment was conducted at varying contact time (0-180 minutes), adsorbent dosage at 0.2 g – 1.0 g, pH at 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 and intial concentration at 5 ppm to 25 ppm. The result shows that removal of MO achieves equilibrium time at minute 90. With adsorbent dosage of 1.0 gram as suitable dosage, it was observed that pH 2 shows the highest percentage of removal with 59.23% of removal. Meanwhile, the highest percentage for initial concentration is at 5 ppm. This study also includes the comparison of performance between Imperata Cylindrica and commercial activated carbon (CAC) in methyl orange removal based on same parameters. Overall, this work is a very promising way in finding an alternative for activated carbon from agricultural wastes.