An effort to acquire tremendous green adsorbent: degradation of methylene blue in aqueous solutions by using rice husk-IR 64
Edy Wibowo1*, Iqbal Dwi Cahyo1, Naily Ulya1, Mamat Rokhmat1, Putut Marwoto2, Budi Astuti2, Imam Sumpono2, Sulhadi2, Mahardika Prasetya Aji2 and Sutisna3
1Engineering Physics, School of Electrical Engineering, Telkom University, Jalan Telekomunikasi No.1, Terusan Buah Batu, Bandung, Indonesia.
2Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Semarang (UNNES), Gunungpati, Semarang, Indonesia.
3Department of Physics, Faculty of Mathematics and Natural Sciences, Universitas Negeri Jember, East Java, Indonesia.
Abstract
We report the attempt of utilization rice husk-IR 64 as green adsorbents for degrade methylene blue in aqueous solutions. We attempted to significantly enhance the degradation ability of rice husk, but through a simple process i.e. drying in the sun and boiling in the aquadest. The percent degradation of MB in the solutions was determined by using photometer apparatus, while the change of transparence of the solution after treated by activated rice husk was measured by UV-vis spectrometer. We obtained that the boiling treatment is more effective for enhancing the degradation ability of rice husk than sunbathing process. The use of boiled rice husks could reduce MB in the solutions up to 89%. Indeed, the degradation ability of rice husk-IR 64 can be significantly increase through simple treatment so that it possess a great chance to develop as green adsorbent with marvelous performance.
Keywords: rice husk, IR 64, degradation, methylene blue, aqueous solutions
Topic: Functional Materials