LATERITE SOIL AS NATURAL ADSORBENT TO REMOVE COLOUR IN THE WASTEWATER SAMPLE

This paper presents the removal of colour from a glove factory by
using laterite soil as a natural adsorbent and the results were
compared with the commercial activated carbon. Determinations
were done using laterite soil that had been modified into three
types of adsorbents, which are natural wash adsorbent, acid wash
10% and 40% adsorbent. Acid wash adsorbent is proven to be
more effective in removing colour concentration compared to the
natural wash adsorbent. By using natural wash adsorbent, the best
condition for colour removal was at a dosage of 1g with pH 4 and
contact time at 20 minutes, while acid wash 40% adsorbent needed
only 0.3g of dosage at pH 6 with contact time only 15 minutes.
This study shows that laterite soil can become one of the effective
natural adsorbents, since it can remove almost 100% of the colour
concentration in the water sample.