DEVELOPMENT OF CHITOSAN ADSORBENT FROM RED KURISI FISH SCALES (NEMIPTERUS VIRGATUS)–TIO₂ FOR LEAD (PB) ADSORPTION IN LEACHATE FROM BATU TERANG LANDFILL, BANTAENG REGENCY

Abstrak

Chitosan is a natural biopolymer derived from chitin through a deacetylation process and is well known for its non-toxic, biodegradable, and environmentally friendly properties. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of chitosan extracted from red kurisi fish scales (Nemipterus virgatus) combined with TiO₂ as an adsorbent for reducing heavy metal Pb in landfill leachate from Batu Terang, Bantaeng Regency. The synthesis of chitosan was carried out through deproteinization, demineralization, and deacetylation processes, resulting in a yield of 80.44% with a degree of deacetylation of 86.12%. Characterization of the chitosan included moisture content analysis (1.5%), ash content (0.86%), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), which confirmed the successful formation of chitosan through the appearance of –NH₂ and –OH functional groups. The obtained chitosan was then composited with TiO₂ at different ratios of 1:0, 1:1, and 2:1 (chitosan:TiO₂) and further confirmed using FTIR analysis. Adsorption experiments were conducted by adding 0.25 g of adsorbent into 50 mL of leachate sample. The concentration of Pb was measured using Atomic Absorption Spectroscopy (AAS) before and after treatment. The results showed that all adsorbent variations were able to reduce the initial Pb concentration of 2.1609 mg/L to below the quality standard of 0.1 mg/L as regulated by Indonesian Government Regulation No. 82 of 2001. The highest efficiency was achieved by pure chitosan (1:0 ratio) with a final Pb concentration of 0.0124 mg/L and an efficiency of 99.43%, followed by the 2:1 ratio with 70.81% and the 1:1 ratio with 52.27%. These findings indicate that chitosan derived from red kurisi fish scales is an effective and environmentally friendly adsorbent, with optimal performance observed in its pure form without TiO₂ addition. This study also highlights the potential utilization of fishery waste as a value-added material for sustainable wastewater treatment technologies. Furthermore, it contributes to the development of biomass-based adsorbent materials and offers a cost-effective, efficient, and sustainable solution for treating polluted water in broader practical applications in Indonesia.