Reactivity improvement of Ca(OH)(2) sorbent using diatomaceous earth (DE) from Aceh Province

In this study, the diatomaceous earth (DE) from Aceh Province was used to increase the reactivity of Ca(OH)(2)sorbent. The high silica (SiO2) content of about 97% in the diatomaceous earth allows the increasing reactivity of Ca(OH)(2)sorbent by forming calcium silicate hydrate (CSH). The CSH improved the porosity characteristic of the sorbent. The improvement process was performed by mixing Ca(OH)(2)sorbent, diatomaceous earth and water in a beaker glass at the Ca(OH)(2)/DE weight ratio of 1:10 for 2 hand then dried at 120 degrees C for 24 h. The dried sorbent was calcined at 500 degrees C and 800 degrees C for 2 h. The activated sorbent was characterized using Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) for the morphological properties; X-Ray Diffraction (XRD) for the materials characteristics. The adsorption capacity of thesorbent was tested by methylene blue adsorption. The results showed that the Ca(OH)(2)/DEsorbent had a higher porosity than the Ca(OH)(2) adsorbent. The results also showed that Ca(OH)(2)/DE which was calcined at higher temperature of 800 degrees C had a higher adsorption capacity compared to Ca(OH)(2)/DE which was calcined at lower temperature of 500 degrees C.