PHOTOCATALIST OF CuO DOPED SiO2 FROM BAGASSE TO INCREASE WATER QUALITY

Abstract

The purpose of this research is (1) to know the process of making the semiconductor of CuO doped SiO₂ photocatalyst, (2) to know the result of the characterization of CuO doped SiO₂ photocatalyst semiconductor using XRD, SEM / EDX, and UV Visible Diffuse Reflectance (DR), and (3) to know the result of congo red waste test using CuO doped SiO₂ photocatalyst semiconductor to improve water quality. Stages done in this research are making of silica from bagasse, making of photocatalyst CuO/ SiO₂, and testing to congo red waste. Data analysis techniques in this study include surface analysis and sample content using SEM / EDX, sample crystallinity analysis using XRD, band gap analysis of samples using UV Visible Diffuse Reflectance, and analysis of CuO/ SiO₂ photocatalytic absorbance to congo red waste using Spectronic 20. Based on prefinding research, it is known that from 1 kg of dry bagasse produced 500 grams of charcoal, so as to obtain silica as much as 350 grams of grayish white. The findings showed that the material was crystalline with SiO₂ cristobalite and tridymite structure, SEM showed a homogeneous CuO/ SiO₂ surface, UV-Vis DR showed Silica after washing has a gap energy of 4.58 eV and CuO/ SiO₂ 1.79 eV and 2.19 eV. The results of photodegradation show that CuO/ SiO₂ has a congo red degrading ability greater than silica after washing.