Telah dilakukan sintesis adsorben lempung terinterkalasi surfaktan dari lempung alam Tulakan, Pacitan, Jawa Timur. Interkalasi dilakukan dengan menginterkalasikan surfaktan benzalkonium klorida (BKC). Pada proses sintesis dikaji variasi konsentrasi surfaktan. Adsorben hasil sintesis dikarakterisasi dengan spektroskopi inframerah. Kemampuan adsorpsi adsorben lempung terinterkalasi surfaktan diuji pada proses penjernihan minyak daun cengkeh Pacitan dan Samigaluh. Analisis adsorbat dilakukan dengan spektroskopi inframerah dan gravimetri. Minyak daun cengkeh hasil penjernihan dianalisis dengan kromameter dan kromatografi gas. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa adsorben lempung terinterkalasi surfaktan BKC hasil sintesis mempunyai hidrofobisitas semakin tinggi seiring dengan meningkatnya konsentrasi surfaktan. Uji kemampuan adsorpsi menunjukkan bahwa adsorben lempung terinterkalasi surfaktan mampu menjernihkan minyak daun cengkeh Pacitan dan Samigaluh secara maksimal pada konsentrasi surfaktan 0,5% (v/v). Kapasitas adsorpsi dipengaruhi oleh hidrofobisitas lempung.

Synthesis of surfactant intercalated clay as adsorbent from natural clay Tulakan, Pacitan has been conducted. The intercalation was conducted by intercalating surfactant benzalkonium chloride (BKC) surfactant. During the synthesis, variations of the surfactant concentration was studied. Characterizations of adsorbent was carried out by infrared spectroscopy. Adsorption performance of surfactant-intercalated clay was tested for purification of Pacitan and Samigaluh clove leave oil. The analyses of adsorbate were done by infrared spectroscopy and gravimetric methods. Characterization of clove leave oil product has been carried out by chromameter and gas chromatography. The results showed that hidrophobicity of the adsorbent as the surfactant concentration increased. Adsorption performance test showed that the adsorbent has the best performance to purify Pacitan and Samigaluh clove leave oil for bentonite clay intercalated by 0.5% (v/v) of surfactant. In addition, adsorption capacity of the adsorbent was affected by hydrophobicity of clay.

Kata Kunci : lempung terinterkalasi surfaktan, adsorben, benzalkonium klorida (BKC), kapasitas adsorpsi, surfactant intercalated clay, adsorbent, benzalkonium chloride (BKC), adsorption capacity