Penyisihan Krom pada Pengolahan Air Limbah Penyamakan Kulit Menggunakan Metode Elektrokoagulasi

Abstract

Tanning is the process that converts animal hides and skin into stable and imputrescible products called leather. The production processes in a tanning use chromium sulfat. Chrome metal is a heavy metal that is toxic, so the waste water from the leather tanning process will pollute the environment if it is not treated. In this research, wastewater treatment is used by electrocoagulation method to determine the effect of operating on the chromium removal to obtain optimal conditions. In this study, electrocoagulation experiments were using aluminum electrodes. Electrocoagulation process was carried out in 9 variations with parameters pH, electrical current and time where pH was set at pH 7. Electrical current done on 0.5 A, 1 A, and 1.5 A. Time done in 1 hour, 2 hours and 3 hours. The experiment results were analyzed by comparing the concentration before processing and concentration after processing to obtain efficiency. Based on the experimental result on 9 variations, the variation that has the highest efficiency is at electrical current 1.5 Ampere and time 3 hours. This variation can remove 78.95 % chrome concentration from 245.1 mg/L to 51.6 mg/L.

Keywords

• wastewater, heavy metal, leather tanning industry, electrocoagulation, total chrome