Effectiveness of Corn Cob (Zea mays L.) Activated Carbon Modified with Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB) in the Adsorption of Metanil Yellow

Ramanda Fatwa (State University of Medan)
Ratna Sari Dewi

Indonesian Journal of Chemical Science and Technology
Vol. 9 No. 2 (2026): JULY 2026

This study examines the potential of corn cob waste (Zea mays L.) as a raw material for activated carbon to remove Metanil Yellow dye from textile waste. Activated carbon was prepared through a carbonization process at 400°C followed by chemical activation using KOH to expand the pore structure. To optimize the affinity for anionic dyes, the carbon surface was modified with a cationic surfactant, Cetyl Trimethyl Ammonium Bromide (CTAB). FTIR characterization results showed successful modification, characterized by the appearance of C−N group vibrations at wavenumbers 1371 cm−1 and 1217 cm−1. The adsorption test was carried out at a maximum wavelength of 494 nm. The results showed that the adsorption efficiency increased significantly with increasing adsorbent mass and contact time, with the highest efficiency reaching 98-100% in the 90-120 minute time range. This proves that CTAB modification effectively increases the electrostatic interaction between the positively charged adsorbent surface and the negatively charged Metanil Yellow molecules.