SINTESIS DAN KARAKTERISTIK NANOKOMPOSIT CHITOSAN/MgO/AC BERBASIS SHRIMP SHELL DAN COCONUT CARBON DENGAN UJI PSA DAN SEM-EDX

Intensive shrimp farming generates effluents rich in dissolved nitrogen compounds, such as ammonia, nitrite, and nitrate, which can deteriorate water quality and trigger eutrophication. Conventional treatment methods are often insufficient to control these pollutants, highlighting the need for eco-friendly adsorbent materials. The utilization of biomass waste as a raw material for functional materials represents a sustainable approach in environmental technology development. This study aimed to synthesize and characterize a Chitosan/MgO/AC, nanocomposite derived from shrimp shell and coconut shell waste. Chitosan was isolated through deproteinization, demineralization, and deacetylation processes, while activated carbon was produced via carbonization and chemical activation. The nanocomposite was synthesized using magnetic stirring and sonication to obtain a homogeneous particle distribution. Morphological characteristics and elemental composition were analyzed using Scanning Electron Microscopy–Energy Dispersive X-ray (SEM-EDX), while particle size distribution was evaluated using a Particle Size Analyzer (PSA). SEM analysis revealed that NanoChito exhibited a rough, irregular, and porous surface morphology, indicating the formation of a composite structure between Chitosan, MgO, and activated carbon. EDX results confirmed the presence of carbon (C), oxygen (O), and magnesium (Mg) as the main constituent elements of the nanocomposite. PSA analysis showed an average particle size of 61.09 nm with a low polydispersity index (PI) of 0.0563, indicating a highly homogeneous particle size distribution within the nanoscale range. These results demonstrate that the synthesis of the Chitosan/MgO/AC nanocomposite from biomass waste was successfully achieved and exhibited favorable physical characteristics for further development as an eco-friendly functional material.