DOI: https://doi.org/10.55373/mjchem.v25i5.190

Keywords: Biopolymer; calcium alginate; Rhodamin B Dye

Abstract

Wastewater from anthropogenic activities such as the textile, dyeing and finishing industries release heavy metals that cause pollution of the environment, particularly the water resources and soil. Rhodamin B is one type of dye used in industries such as textile industry. In this research, we reported the results of designing the Calcium Alginate-Fly Ash (Biopolymer Composite Beads) and its application as an adsorbent to reduce the amount of Rhodamin B in wastewater. Calcium Alginate-Fly Ash composite beads were obtained by mixing sodium alginate with fly ash in distillate water then drop the solution in Calcium Chloride (CaCl2) solution for shaping the beads. Calcium Alginate-Fly Ash characterization from the result of FTIR analysis showed the presence of OH functional group, carboxyl groups, and silica groups. The adsorption of Rhodamin B dye using composite beads was performed at various change in contact time with the different type of adsorbents (Calcium Alginate beads and Calcium Alginate-Fly Ash beads). The result showed that the highest reduction in Rhodamin B occurred at the contact time of 150 minutes with removal percentage 13.22% using Calcium Alginate-Fly Ash composite beads as adsorbent.