EFFECT OF GAMMA 60Co IRRADIATION ON MORPHOLOGY OF CARBON/SODIUM LAURYL SULPHATE (CARBON/SLS) USING A NOVEL SEM-EDS

Abstract

Activated carbon is a material that has many benefits both in the health, energy such as storage materials and fuel cells, and industrial sector. Highly benefit of carbon material encourages researchers to activate it by various efficient methods. Activation carbon methods consist of two, by chemical and physical activation. Using chemical compounds, both acids, bases, and salts can increase carbon activity. Degradation of cellulose structure in natural materials by chemical compounds can increase its surface area. However, the presence of chemical compounds like acids and bases can pollute the environment. Another methods of activation carbon is electromagnetic waves used. In this research, electromagnetic wave irradiation will be carried out on carbon. The electromagnetic waves used gamma exposure from Cobalt-60 sources. Gamma electromagnetic exposure is clean energy without residual chemical compounds. This preliminary experiment aims to determine effect of 60Co gamma irradiation on the morphology of carbon materials at dose of 40 kGy using Scanning Electron-Energy Dispersion Spectroscopy Microscopy (SEM-EDS). The results showed that effect of irradiation exposure 60Co gamma on the morphology of Carbon/SLS was unsmooth particles formation, which indicates that Carbon/SLS can be used as adsorbent. Moreover, the presence of surfactant causes the carbon particles not to agglomerate or to be easily dispersed. 60Co gamma irradiation also causes carbon become rich in oxygen which comes from free radicals.