Adsorption of Cu (II) from Cu Standard Solution Using Expanded Perlite

Abstract

The research aimed to determine the ability of expanded perlite to adsorb or remove Cu (II) metal ions in the solution. Furthermore can be used to reduce Cu levels in the aquatic environment caused by industrial and mining waste. Expanded perlite is a product of perlite resulting from heating at temperatures above 1000°C. Perlite is a volcanic product contains high silica content and a lot of water content so when heating occurs will increase the porosity and surface area that can cause adsorption. Expanded perlite sized < 1 mm can be utilized in the remediation process of mining waste because it is effective in the adsorption of ions such as Cu so as not to be in aquatic environtment. Expanded perlites, effectively used in the adsorption process, have a grain size of < 1 mm with a dose of 60 g/l. An experimental batch test method was carried out with the parameters of pH, adsorbent dose, and contact time to determine the ability of expanded perlite to adsorb Cu (II). The optimum pH in the Cu (II) metal ion adsorption process was 7 and reached equilibrium within 240 minutes. The adsorption equilibrium (chemical adsorption due to cation exchange) that can be absorbed by 1 gram of expanded perlite is 6.11 mg Cu (II), while the maximum adsorption capacity (physical adsorption due to the hydroxyl group bonded to silica has a high electronegativity value so that it can attract positively charged ions) that can be absorbed by 1 gram of expanded perlite is 1.47 mg Cu (II).