Activation of coconut shell charcoal has been done by a combination of chemical
and physical activation to determine the effect of chemical activators and activation
temperature to changes in the chemical structure and the quality of activated carbon .
The study was conducted on charcoal coconut shell of pyrolysis results with variation of
concentration and immersion time ZnCl2 as an activator , respectively 0.5 to 2 M for 12
to 24 hours . Then proceed with the activation of physics in reactor the activation of the
temperature variation of 500 to 800 oC with CO2 gas flow rate 20 mL / min . Evaluation
of the chemical structure and the quality of activated carbon performed FTIR , SEM ,
specific surface area , total pore volume , and average pore with Brunauer - Emmett -
Teller ( BET ) . The results showed the results of the analysis of SPSS through
Cofficients test the concentration variables most affect to moisture content , ash content ,
and iodine absorption from temperature variable and time of activation . The best quality
activated carbon produced at a concentration of ZnCl2 of 1.5 M, 24 hours soaking time of
24 hours , temperature 800 oC and the activation time of 120 minutes . The results as
moisture content of 8.47 % , volatile matter content of 18.55 % , ash content 1.44 % ,
bonded carbon content of 80.01 % and iodine absorption of 769.74 mg / g . The results
of FTIR analysis showed the surface of activated carbon containing CO and CH bonds ,
and SEM analysis showed the number and diameter of pores increased with the higher
calcination temperature . Surface area ( BET ) of 359.286 m2 / g , pore volume of 1.984 x
10-1 cm3 / g and pore mean of 11.46 Ǻ
