Coconut Shell Waste as an Adsorbent for Methylene Blue Dye Removal

Coconut shells, a byproduct with significant economic value, pose environmental challenges when not properly processed. One effective way to mitigate these impacts is by converting coconut shells into activated carbon, which is widely used as an adsorbent due to its superior adsorption capabilities. This study aims to evaluate the quality of adsorbents activated through physical and physico-chemical methods. The parameters assessed include moisture content, ash content, iodine absorption, and methylene blue absorption, all in accordance with the SNI 1995 standards. Additionally, the study investigates the impact of adsorbent mass and contact time on the effectiveness and capacity of coconut shell adsorbents for methylene blue solutions.The research methodology comprises three main stages: adsorbent preparation, adsorbent activation, and the adsorption process. During the adsorption process, various adsorbent masses (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25 grams) and contact times (15, 30, 45, 60, and 75 minutes) are tested using two types of activation: physical and physico-chemical. The results demonstrate that the highest adsorption percentage, 99.91%, is achieved with a physico-chemically activated adsorbent mass of 25 grams and a contact time of 60 minutes. This study underscores the effectiveness of physico-chemical activation and optimal adsorbent mass and contact time in enhancing the adsorption capacity of coconut shell-derived activated carbon for methylene blue solutions. By optimizing these parameters, the environmental impact of coconut shells can be significantly reduced while maximizing their economic value.