Penggunaan Karbon Aktif di Settling Pond Pengolahan Bijih Emas di Desa Kutawaringin, Kecamatan Kutawaringin, Kabupaten Bandung, Provinsi Jawa Barat

Abstract

Abstract. Gold mining activities in Kutawaringin District, Bandung Regency are one example of the use of amalgamation methods in gold processing. Previous reports stated that the mercury content in the lower reaches of the Ciherang River was 0.2 mg/L [10]. Previous research stated that activated carbon can absorb up to 99%. This research is focused on settling pond to reduce mercury levels in gold processing waste when it will be flowed into the river. Initial sample testing showed that mercury content was 0.07984 mg/L, above the water quality standard threshold of 0.005 mg/L, TDS was 443 mg/L and pH was 7.86. The research was conducted using activated carbon weight test variables 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 grams with contact times of 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9 hours for 1 liter gold processing waste samples. The test results showed the highest decrease in mercury levels in the variable weight of activated carbon 6 grams with a contact time of 8 hours of 0.00337 mg/L. The use of activated carbon in the settling pond by adjusting the volume of the settling pond at the research location was 0.891 m3 with a variable weight of 5.3 kg and a contact time of 8 hours to obtain a result of 0.000433 mg/L with a percentage decrease of 99.46%.

Abstrak. Kegiatan penambangan emas di Kecamatan Kutawaringin, Kabupaten Bandung merupakan salah satu contoh penggunaan metode amalgamasi dalam pengolahan emas. Laporan terdahulu menyebutkan kandungan merkuri di hilir Sungai Ciherang sebesar 0,2 mg/L [10]. Penelitian sebelumnya menyebutkan bahwa karbon aktif dapat menyerap hingga 99%. Penelitian ini difokuskan pada settling pond untuk mengurangi kadar merkuri pada limbah hasil pengolahan emas ketika akan dialirkan ke sungai. Pengujian sampel awal didapatkan hasil kandungan logam merkuri sebesar 0,07984 mg/L, di atas nilai ambang batas baku mutu air yakni sebesar 0,005 mg/L, TDS sebesar 443 mg/L dan pH sebesar 7,86. Penelitian dilakukan menggunakan variabel uji berat karbon aktif 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 gram dengan waktu kontak yakni 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, dan 9 jam untuk sampel limbah pengolahan emas sebanyak 1 Liter. Hasil pengujian menunjukkan penurunan kadar merkuri tertinggi pada variabel berat karbon aktif 6 gram dengan waktu kontak 8 jam sebesar 0,00337 mg/L. Penggunaan karbon aktif pada settling pond dengan menyesuaikan volume settling pond lokasi penelitian sebesar 0,891 m3 dengan variabel berat 5,3 kg dan waktu kontak 8 jam mendapatkan hasil sebesar 0,000433 mg/L dengan persentase penurunan sebesar 99,46 %.