Activation of Bentonite and Application for Reduction pH, Color, Organic Substance, and Iron (Fe) in the Peat Water

Abstract

Chemical composition of bentonite may undergo change if when given treatment with ion exchange or by activation. Activation that is often used is thermal activation and chemical activation, in this study used activator is 6% HCl. Bentonite is used as the sample obtained in five villages in the district. Sample preparation is done by the process of drying with sunlight and oven, then puree and add HCL at 6% for 10 hours, drained, washed with distilled water until pH> 6, dried in an oven at 120oC for 6 hours. Bentonite is already inactive characterization by means of XRD and SEM-EDS, then tested for its ability to reduce the parameters pH, color, Organic Matter, TDS and Fe in the peat water. Measurement parameters pH by using a pH meter, organic substance, color and iron (Fe) with a spectrophotometer method and gravimetric solute done. The results showed that the addition of bentonite which is activated as much as 3 ml gr/500 peat water can reduce the concentration of color 84.10%, 80.50% and the organic matter content of iron (Fe) up 79.25%, activation with HCl 6% parameter is significant in reducing water peat and bentonite are added the more the greater its ability to reduce peat water parameters. ANOVA results showed that the addition of bentonite did not affect the pH and TDS peat water well is not activated bentonite and activated on the real level λ = 0.05, this is because bentonite having a pH below 5.0 and dropped after activation with strong acids . The ability of bentonite to absorb organic substances, iron and water color on peat caused by bentonite has a layered structure, containing of silica and alumina, bentonite and colloidal power expands the strong and have cations that can be exchanged, which converge in mineneral monmorrilonit, kaolinite, quartz and cristobalit