Efektivitas Biokoagulan Arang Ampas Tebu Teraktivasi Asam Klorida (HCl) dalam Menurunkan Kekeruhan

Abstract

urbidity is one of the key physical parameters in determining water quality. The use of inorganic coagulants such as aluminum and iron carries the risk of producing toxic sludge, prompting the search for environmentally friendly alternatives such as bio-coagulants. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of hydrochloric acid (HCl)-activated sugarcane bagasse charcoal as a bio-coagulant in reducing water turbidity, to determine the optimum dosage, and to assess the influence of different activator concentrations. The research was conducted at a laboratory scale using the jar test method on synthetic raw water with turbidity levels of 50 NTU and 190 NTU. Three different HCl concentrations (2M, 5M, and 8M) and various bio-coagulant doses ranging from 30 to 210 ppm were applied. The results showed that sugarcane bagasse charcoal activated with 2M HCl achieved the highest turbidity removal efficiency, reaching 87.5% at 50 NTU with a final turbidity of 6.25 NTU and 95.66% at 190 NTU with a final turbidity of 8.25 NTU. FTIR analysis revealed the presence of functional groups such as hydroxyl (O–H), which contribute to the coagulation-flocculation process. The study concludes that HCl-activated sugarcane bagasse charcoal, particularly with 2M HCl at an optimum dosage of 150 ppm, is effective in reducing water turbidity and can serve as an eco-friendly alternative to conventional chemical coagulants.