Asian Journal of Applied Sciences (ISSN: 2321 – 0893) Volume 07 – Issue 02, April 2019 Asian Online Journals (www.ajouronline.com) 194 Hydrogen Sulfide Adsorption improvement of Bayah Natural Zeolite Thomas Agus Bayu Prasetyo 1 , Bambang Soegijono 1* 1 Department of Physics, Materials Science, University of Indonesia Jakarta, Indonesia * Corresponding author’s email: naufal [AT] ui.ac.id _________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACT - Hydrogen sulfide adsorption performance of sonicated natural zeolite in the Ferric chloride hexahydrate solution has been studied. In this research natural zeolite exposed with high intensity ultrasonic waves for 40 minutes, 80 minutes and 120 minutes. Qualitative analysis and characterization of modified zeolite carry out with X-ray diffraction, Infrared spectroscopy, BET adsorption desorption, LAS particle size analysis and scanning electron microscopy prior and after H2S adsorption. Natural zeolite phase are clipnotilolite and mordenite phase with 0.99%wt and 0.512 x 10 -3 %wt respectively. By adding 5gr FeCl3.6H2O and ultrasonic exposure, zeolite chemical and physical properties such as chemical composition, particle size, surface area and pore radius are improved. Hydrogen sulfide %wt adsorption effectiveness showing that modified zeolite higher 70-117% comparing with unmodified zeolite. Keywords - Natural zeolite, Ferric chloride Hexahydrate, Ultrasonic, Hydrogen sulfide _________________________________________________________________________________ 1. INTRODUCTION In an attempt to improve the properties of Indonesian natural zeolite, we have undertaken modification and the characterization of natural zeolite produced in Bayah, Indonesia. Bayah natural zeolite mainly consists of mordenite type crystalline [1], Bayah natural zeolite has been used as adsorbents for various purposes it has been studied previously and standardized by Indonesian standardization body (SNI). As adsorbent material, Bayah natural zeolite categorized as material with the highest cation exchange capacity comparing with other Indonesian natural zeolites from Sukabumi, Tasikmalaya, Cikalong and Toraja [1,2,3]. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) gas very harmful to the human being and another living things, besides that hydrogen sulfide is one of substance that contribute to the steel corrosion process. Sour corrosion of hydrogen sulfide producing FeS as corrosion product between steel and H2S will tend to cause local corrosion attack and produce pitting, in addition the reaction between H2S and steel will produce H atoms that will diffuse into steel causing SCC sulfide [4]. Zeolite modification by treating with an addition of FeCl3.6H2O and sonification process for 40min, 80min and 120min and/or hydrothermal followed by microwave treatment. Expectation of FeCl 3.6H2O addition are improving chemical properties and %weight of zeolite element especially Fe contain when high intensity ultrasonic wave processing has been used to produce nanomaterials and chemical reaction. High intensity ultrasonic liquid processor produces microbubbles in the solution between of the primary and secondary flow. This sonication process may increase or change the physical and chemical properties of a material [5]. It has been studied and understood that high power ultrasonic irradiation is very effective in homogenizing the reactants in the suspension, leading to the improvement of the reactivity of both solid and liquid by simulating their active surface [6]. Purification of natural zeolite by using ultrasonic technique is also applied by researchers to remove and separate impurities materials; this technique is believed to deliver faster processing and result [7]. The research was conducted with the aim to prepare, perform adsorption H2S test and characterize natural zeolite from Bayah by adding FeCl3.6H2O and introduce ultrasonic wave for 40 minutes, 80 minutes and 120 minutes, multiplication exposure duration to evaluate physical and chemical properties due to exposure duration and mechanical effect of ultrasound are responsible for mixing during the homogenous liquid phase reaction of sonochemistry elapse time with saturation process [8].