ABSTRAK Kitosan telah dimodifikasi menggunakan EDTA dan arang aktif membentuk komposit kitosan-EDTA/arang aktif. Penambahan EDTA untuk meningkatkan kapasitas adsorpsi dan arang aktif (filler) sebagai penguat sifat mekanik kitosan. Arang aktif yang digunakan berasal dari tandan kosong kelapa sawit. Komposit kitosan-EDTA/arang aktif dibuat dengan beberapa komposisi. Komposit kitosan-EDTA/arang aktif dikarakterisasi dengan menggunakan uji tarik (tensile strength), FTIR, XRD, SEM, DSC dan TGA. Semakin besar komposisi arang aktif, kekuatan mekaniknya semakin meningkat. Komposit terbaik diperoleh menggunakan metode SAW berdasarkan nilai tensile strength dan kapasitas adsorpsi terhadap ion logam Cd2+. Komposit terbaik dipelajari kesetimbangan adsorpsinya terhadap Cd2+. Komposisi komposit terbaik adalah 0,85 : 0,1 :0,15 (kitosan: EDTA: arang aktif). Kapasitas adsorpsi komposit kitosan-EDTA/arang aktif tebaik terhadap ion logam kadmium paling tinggi diperoleh pada pH 4 dengan waktu kontak 30 menit. Berdasrakan isoterm adsorpsi Langmuir, kapasitas adsorpsi maksimum adalah 250 mg/g. Dari hasil uji regenarasi diketahui bahwa komposit kitosan-EDTA/arang aktif dapat digunakan kembali. Kata Kunci : Kadmium, Kitosan, EDTA, Arang Aktif dan Adsorpsi ABSTRACT Chitosan had been modified using EDTA and activated charcoal which forms chitosan-EDTA/activated charcoal composite. EDTA was use in order to increase the adsorption capacity and activated charcoal (filler) was as reinforcement of mechanical chitosan property. The activated charcoal used was prepared from oil palm empety bunches. The composite of chitosan-EDTA/activated charcoal was prepared with several compositions. Chitosan-EDTA/activated charcoal was characterized by tensile test (tensile strength), FTIR, XRD, SEM, DSC and TGA. Results showed, the greater the composition of activated charcoal the higher the mechanical strength. The best composite was obtained by using SAW method based on tensile strength value and adsorption capacity of metal ion Cd2+. The best composite was studied its equilibrium adsorption for Cd2+ adsorption. The best composite compositions was 0,85 : 0,1 :0,15 (chitosan: EDTA :activated charcoal). The best adsorption capacity of chitosan-EDTA/activated charcoal composite on cadmium metal ion adsorption was obtained at pH 4 with a contact time of 30 minutes. Based on Langmuir adsorption isotherm, the maximum adsorption capacity was 250 mg/g. The generation test result showed chitosan-EDTA/activated charcoal could be reused. Keywords : Cadmium, Chitosan, EDTA, Activated Charcoal and Adsorption