Effect of H2SO4 Activator Solution Concentration and Pyrolysis Temperature on the Characteristics of Activated Micro Biochar from Sugarcane Bagasse Waste
Nimas Mayang Sabrina Sunyoto (a*), Hendrix Yulis Setyawan (a), Sri Suhartini (a), Ika Atsari Dewi (a), Sakunda Anggarini (a), Muhamad Imam Fahurrozi (a), Hariana (b)

a) Department of Agroindustrial Technology, Faculty of Agricultural Technology, Universitas Brawijaya
Veteran Street No. 1, Malang 65145, Indonesia
b) Research Center for Energy Conversion and Conservation, National Research and Innovation Agency,
South Tangerang 15314, Indonesia
*Corresponding author : nimas.sunyoto[at]ub.ac.id

Abstract

Sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) is the main commodity used as raw material for sugar production. National sugarcane production reached 2,271,000 tons in 2023, with East Java as the largest producing province. One of the main wastes from sugarcane milling is bagasse, which accounts for 35-40% of the total weight of fresh sugarcane. Bagasse contains 40-50% cellulose, 20-30% hemicellulose, and 10-25% lignin, giving it high potential for utilization, one of which is as raw material for activated micro biochar. This study aims to analyze and evaluate the effect of pyrolysis temperature and concentration of H2SO4 solution on the characteristics of activated micro biochar from bagasse waste. The study used two factors: pyrolysis temperature with three levels (400, 500, and 600) degrees Celsius and H2SO4 concentration with three levels (1M, 3M, and 5M). The results showed that pyrolysis temperature significantly affected all test parameters, while the concentration of H2SO4 solution also influenced all parameters. The best treatment was activated micro biochar produced at a pyrolysis temperature of 600 and H2SO4 concentration of 5M. This treatment met three of the six parameters of SNI 06-3730-1995, with characteristics of moisture content 2.20%, ash content 13.63%, volatile matter 19.87%, fixed carbon 66.50%, iodine absorbency 721.55 mg/g, methylene blue adsorption 17.94 mg/g with 92.03% efficiency, and particle size 13.604 micrometer. This research supports the potential application of activated micro biochar in wastewater adsorption based on its physicochemical properties.

Keywords: Activated Micro Biochar- Bagasse- H2SO4 Concentration- Pyrolysis Temperature

Topic: Waste and environmental management and engineering