BIOSORPSI ION Cr(III) PADA RUMPUT LAUT Eucheuma Spinosum TERAKTIVASI ASAM SULFAT

Abstract

Biosorption of chromium(III) ion on sulfuric acid activated algae (Eucheuma spinosum) biosorbent have
been studied in this research. The studies included determination of optimum ratio of sulphuric acid to biosorbent
algae, biosorbent acidity, isoterm and biosorption capacity, and interaction mechanisms of Cr(III) on biosorbent. The
mechanisms interaction of Cr(III) on biosorbent can be determinted from the sequential desorption of Cr(III) using
H2O, 1M HCl and 0.05M Na2EDTA.
The result showed that the optimum ratio of sulphuric acid to biosorbent was 1.5 mmol/g. It was also found
that the total acidity of acid-activated and untreated algae biosorbent were 8.56±0.21 and 2.59± 0.28 mmol/g
respectively. The biosorption capacity of activated biosorbent toward Cr(III) was 72.33 mg/g while the capacity of
untreated biosorbent was 57.32 mg/g. The interaction mechanisms of Cr(III) with biosorbent were found to be
mainly through the ionic interaction, while the interaction through hydrogen bonding, van der Walls, and
complexation were found to be relative us low.