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Utilization of Biomass Waste as Absorbents for Groundwater Purification

Shafwan Amrullah, Malinee Sriariyanun, Wawat Rodiahwati

Abstract


Calcium carbonate (CaCO₃) in groundwater is a major concern, as it can cause scaling in pipes and potentially pose health risks, particularly in rural areas. Developing innovative groundwater filtration systems capable of reducing CaCO₃ content is therefore essential for improving water quality. This study investigated the use of biomass waste from candlenut shells and corn cobs as sources of activated carbon adsorbents for portable groundwater filtration in the Sumbawa Region, Indonesia. A portable filter system was designed using varying amounts of adsorbent (150, 250, and 500 g), and its performance was evaluated based on several water quality parameters, including temperature, total dissolved solids (TDS), pH, taste, odor, turbidity, and CaCO₃ concentration. The results showed that the groundwater temperature remained stable (31–33 °C) with no significant changes observed. Both candlenut shell and corn cob adsorbents effectively reduced TDS, pH, taste, odor, turbidity, and CaCO₃ content. Corn cob adsorbents generally performed better, likely due to their more developed microporous structure, while candlenut shells reduced carbon release more slowly. Corn cob adsorbents achieved the highest reductions in TDS, CaCO₃, and pH, while candlenut shells showed better performance in sensory quality by reducing taste scores and odor intensity. Turbidity decreased by up to 91% using candlenut shells (to 0.24 NTU) and 90% using corn cobs (to 0.28 NTU). These findings highlight the potential of converting agricultural biomass waste into low-cost activated carbon absorbents for sustainable groundwater purification in rural communities.

Keywords



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DOI: 10.14416/j.asep.2026.01.009

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