SYNTHESIS OF NANOBENTONITE AS HEAVY METAL ADSORBENT WITH VARIOUS SOLVENTS

The nanobentonite has been synthesized from natural bentonite taken from Tapanuli Utara, Indonesia using coprecipitation method with various solvents (HCl, H2SO4, and HNO3). Its properties as a metal adsorbent were investigated by Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometry. X-Ray Diffraction analysis revealed that the bentonite produced is in nanometer scale. The characterization results obtained from the SiO2single phase with highest dhkl was at millier index (101) with 2 of 21.9o, 22.0o, 22.07o respectively. The results of Microscope-Scanning Electron Energy analysis of nanobentonite dispersion indicated a reduction in agglomeration and finer nanobentonite surface. The Surface Area Analyzer results showed the SBET nanobentonite for solvent variation of HCL, H2SO4, and HNO3 respectively were 731.76 m2/g, 868.11 m2/g, 493.97 m2/ g. Lastly, Atomic Adsorption Spectrophotometric test showed that the optimal absorption of the metal content possessed by variety of HCl and nanobentonites with adsorption power of 91.16% for Pb, 76.39% for Cu, and 82.74% Co.