Synthesis of Cu-(TAC) Composite with Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunch Waste Activated Carbon Through the Adsorption Mechanism of βCarotene

This study aims to determine the adsorption and desorption abilities of activated carbon and Cu-(TAC) composites in the β-carotene adsorption process on Crude Palm Oil (CPO). Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (EFB) are used as activated carbon and modified with MOFs Cu-(TAC). Activated carbon and Cu-(TAC) composites were characterized by XRD, SEM-EDX, and BET. The concentration of β-carotene absorbed during the adsorption process was analyzed using a UV-Vis spectrophotometer. The variations used to determine the optimum conditions for absorption of β-carotene were the mass variation of the adsorbent and the variation in the contact time between the adsorbent and adsorbate. The results of the characterization of activated carbon showed a sharp absorption in the presence of O-H, C-H and C-O groups indicating the presence of cellulose. Activated carbon is amorphous and the Cu-(TAC) composite has a crystal structure and its pore size is mesoporous. The optimum conditions for the use of activated carbon for β-carotene adsorption were the mass variation of 8 grams with 0.495 ppm of β-carotene and contact time at 120 minutes with 2.605 ppm of β-carotene. The optimum condition of the Cu-(TAC) composite in the β-carotene adsorption process was at 4 gram mass variation with 1.026 ppm β-carotene content and optimum contact time at 60 minutes with 6.384 ppm β-carotene content. The ability of desorption can be seen from the percentage of desorption showing activated carbon in the 150th minute with 96.252% while in the Cu-(TAC) composite in the 30th minute with 88.188%.