(Aliyah), Adsorption of Methyl Violet Dye using Activated Kalembang, Makassar, ( 1stcounselor: Drs.Herman Bangngalino,M.T and 2ndcounselor: Yuliani.HR,ST,M.Eng).

Kalembang is a mineral comprising of clay, carbonic and one type of clays located between layers of yellowish white soil, red, purple, depends on the minerals location. These materials are used by Torajan people as a febrifuge, stomach medicine, and fodder. This study aims to use either unactivated kalembang or activated kalembang thermally and in acid. Kalembang obtained is used as adsorbent in the adsorption of methyl violet to determine its maximum adsorption capacity.
Kalembang is prepared by crushing it then washing it with aquadest and then drying it at 100oC - 110oC. The dry kalembang which has been crushed then sieved using 80 mesh sieve for activation process. In this activation process, variation used for thermal activation is time variation 2 - 6 hours and temperature activation 300 - 600oC, while activation in acid used concentration variation of HCl 0.25N, 0.5N, 1N and 2N then the adsorption process is conducted. Adsorption process is conducted using batch system during 2.5 hours with kalembang weight 0.5 gram and 50 ml methyl violet with varied concentration. Methyl violet concentrations used are 100, 200, 300, 400, 500, 600, 700, 800, and 1000 ppm. After reaching soaking time, the mineral is separated, filtrate contained methyl violet is measured its atomic absorption using UV/VIS spectophotometer to determine methyl violet concentration at equilibrium. This concentration is then used to calculate kalembang adsorption capacity.
The result showed that kalembang can be used as adsorbent in adsorbing methyl violet. The best result was found at thermally activation using red kalembang at activation temperature 300oC during 5 hours with adsorption capacity as 112.87 mg/l while for activation in acid, it was obtained at concentration of HCl 0.25N with Adsorption capacity as 304.02 mg/l.