PRODUKSI BIOKOMPOSIT DARI RUMPUT GAJAH (PENNISETUM PURPUREUM) HASIL FITOREMEDIASI LIMBAH KADMIUM (CD) MELALUI PROSES ANAEROBIC DIGESTION

• Main Author: Tanuwijaya, Kevin
• Format: Final Project
• Language: Indonesia
• Online Access: https://digilib.itb.ac.id/gdl/view/68187
• Institution: Institut Teknologi Bandung

Phytoremediation is an alternative method of soil and water remediation from heavy metal pollution such as cadmium (Cd). Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum) and Typha latifolia L. have resistance to Cd metal so that they can be used as Cd remediator agents. This study aims to utilize phytoremediation biomass to produce bioproducts through the anaerobic digestion process (AD) to produce biogas and bioslurry as a filler for the production of biodegradable foam (biofoam) biocomposites. Phytoremediation was carried out with variations in Cd concentrations, namely 15 and 60 mg/L and distilled water as the control. The growth parameter in the form of the highest relative growth rate (RGR) in P. purpureum and T. latifolia was obtained at a concentration of Cd 15 mg/L valued 31.21% and 43.36% (g/g), respectively. The effectiveness of phytoremediation was evaluated through bioconcentration factor (BCF), translocation factor (TF), and removal percentage (%). The results showed that the BCF value of P. purpureum in all variations was more than 1, while the BCF value of T. latifolia was less than 1. The TF value of P. purpureum and T. latifolia was less than 1, except for P. purpureum with Cd 60 mg/L. The removal percentage of Cd in the media exceeded 99.99% for all variations. P. purpureum biomass from phytoremediation of Cd used as substrate for AD caused a decrease in biogas production by 31% and 33% (v/v) on Cd15 and Cd60 treatments, respectively. The AD process can be used to decreased Cd in substrate up to 25,9%. The AD process decreased the cellulose fraction of the substrate in the range of 30.67 – 41.79% (w/w) and increased the lignin fraction in the range of 7.84 – 18.78% (w/w). The bioslurry were dried and chopped and filtered to mesh size of 100 as a biofoam filler with variations in the addition of 0; 0.5; and 1 g. Biofoam produced with the addition of 0.5 g of filler has the most optimum mechanical characteristics with elongation of 17.5%, ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 34.4 kPa, the highest modulus of elasticity of 864 kPa, and the lowest density of 219.8 kg/m3. Biofoam with and without bioslurry filler has the potential as an environmentally friendly alternative material for commercial flexible polyurethane foam (FPF) because it has a 7.43- times higher elongation and 12.67-times higher UTS despite having 0.56-times lower Young's modulus value and density 10-times higher than commercial FPF.