Synthesis of Filter Media Materials From Egg Shells For Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP) Application Resti Ayu Ningrum (a), Doli Bonardo (a), Sontang Sihotang (a), Syahrul Humaidi (a*)
(a) Department of Physics, FMIPA, Universitas Sumatera Utara, Jl. Bioteknologi I Kampus USU, Medan 20155, Indonesia
*syahrul1[at]usu.ac.id
Abstract
Water is an indispensable requirement for humans, such as for bathing, washing and latrines. One of the requirements for suitable water for use is a neutral pH. Most people living in swampy areas have problems with reddish-brown peat water caused by the high content of dissolved organic matter, especially humic acid and its derivatives. The low pH is also caused by the low content of cations, the presence of organic substances in the form of acids and suspended particles. In peat water, organic substances can cause the water to taste sour, so alkaline substances are needed to neutralize the acid in peat water. It is known that chicken egg shells contain Calcium Carbonate (CaCO_{3}). The content of Calcium Carbonate in egg shells is around 95%. This calcium carbonate is alkaline which can raise the pH of peat water. Almost all broiler egg shells contain calcium carbonate. Based on the calcium carbonate content of broiler egg shells, if the egg shells are used for filter media, the treated water can produce alkaline water, therefore filter media from chicken egg shells can be used to improve the quality of acidic peat water. FTIR spectrum of egg shell samples with 800^{o}C calcination process. It can be seen that the three highest peaks are at wave numbers 3637 cm^{-1}, 1438 cm^{-1}, and 871 cm^{-1}, which indicate the hydroxide strain functional groups in Ca(OH)_{3}, Carbon monoxide and calcite groups, respectively. Several studies also reported that the hydroxyl and carbonation groups at similar wave numbers were 3643 cm^{-1}, 1445 cm^{-1} and 877 cm^{-1}, and at 712 cm^{-1}, 876 cm^{-1}, and 1425 cm^{-1} which correspond to C=C, CO, and CS vibrations. The FTIR results presence of these functional groups at wave numbers 709 cm^{-1}, 871 cm^{-1}, and 1438 cm^{-1}.
Keywords: Egg shells, Waste water, Calcium carbonate, Functional groups
