Study of the influence of activated carbon addition in the manufacture of sediment silica membranes for Na⁺ ion adsorption

Silica in Prigi marine sediments can be used as an adsorbent. Previous studies confirm silica inability to absorb Na⁺ ions optimally. Thus, a study on other adsorbent combinations for the performance of silica in samples on a laboratory scale is required. One of the adsorbent combinations that need to be considered is activated carbon. The combination of activated carbon and silica in the manufacture of membranes is used for seawater filtration and simultaneous adsorption in the seawater desalination process. This study aims to investigate the effect of the addition of activated carbon on the manufacture of silica membrane and its performance in the process of absorbing Na+ ions in Prigi seawater. The sediment content of Prigi Bay, Indonesia, contains silica which has Si-O-Si and Si-OH, so that it is expected that the sediment can absorb Na⁺ ions. This research determined the sampling point, took and prepared sediment samples, then investigated it using XRF, XRD, and SEM-EDX, sediment ashing, extraction of silica from sediment ash, manufactured of sedimentary silica membrane for Na+ ion analysis, characterized of activated carbon silica membrane by FTIR, as well as membrane applications in the Na⁺ ion test.