SYNTHESIS OF POROUS CARBON MATERIAL PROPYLENE MEDICAL MASK AS ADSORBENT HEAVY METAL IRON (Fe) IN WATER EX-TIN MINING BANGKA BELITUNG

Abstract

Bangka Belitung Islands Province faces severe environmental challenges, exacerbated by illegal tin mining activities leading to heightened pollution levels, particularly in stagnant water within former tin mining holes, reaching depths of up to 40 meters. The presence of iron metal (Fe) in this water poses a health risk, potentially damaging intestinal walls and compromising lung function upon ingestion. This study presents a novel approach to address this issue by synthesizing porous carbon material from propylene waste sourced from medical masks. The process involves initial sulfonation for sterilization and pore size enhancement, followed by activation using KOH and carbonization at 750 °C. Characterization methods validate the successful synthesis, including FTIR highlighting polypropylene groups at 822 cm-1, XRD indicating graphite carbon with high crystallinity, and SEM exhibiting rod shapes and cavities at 5,000í— magnification. The adsorption test demonstrates outstanding performance, with porous carbon exhibiting a 100% adsorption efficiency in purifying water, eliminating odors, and reducing iron (Fe) levels. This innovative method effectively reduces iron levels in stagnant water environments, providing a sustainable solution to environmental pollution, particularly in Bangka Belitung.

Keywords

• adsorbent
• iron (fe)
• polypropylene
• stagnant water
• sulfonation