ABSTRAK: Telah dilakukan penelitian tentang pembuatan dan karakterisasi arang dari batang tanaman gumitir (Tagetes erecta) pada berbagai suhu dan waktu pirolisis. Penelitian ini dilakukan untuk memperoleh suhu dan waktu yang optimum dalam pembuatan arang serta mengetahui karakteristik arang yang dihasilkan pada suhu dan waktu optimumnya. Karakteristik arang mengacu pada SNI 06–3730-1995 dengan melakukan analisis terhadap kadar air, abu, volatile, dan karbon serta daya serapnya terhadap odine dan metilen biru. Suhu optimum pirolisis pembuatan arang adalah 300oC dengan karakteristik terbaik berupa rendemen, kadar air, volatile, abu, dan karbon berturut-turut sebesar 40,27 ±; 4,00 ± 0,00; 6,58 ± 0,07; 4,34 ± 1,22; dan 85,06%, serta daya serapnya terhadap iodin dan metilen biru sebesar 631,0935 ± 0,00 dan 131,34 ± 1,7 mg/g arang. Waktu pirolisis optimum adalah 90 menit dengan karakterisitik paling baik, yakni rendemen, kadar air, volatile, abu, dan karbon berturut-turut sebesar 42,30 ± 8,7; 2,00 ± 0,00; 2,87 ± 0,07; 9,68 ± 1,17; dan 85,44% serta daya serapnya terhadap iodin dan metilen biru sebesar 647,4642 ± 0,00 dan 136,20 ± 1,28 mg/g arang. Arang yang dihasilkan dari pirolisis pada suhu dan waktu optimum memiliki karakteristik yang sesuai dengan SNI 06-3730-1995 memiliki gugus fungsi O-H dan berupa karbon alifatik. ABSTRACT: This paper discusses the manufacture and characterization of carbon made from the stems of marigold (Tagetes erecta) at various temperatures and times of pyrolysis. This research aimed to obtain the optimum temperature and time of pyrolising in producing carbon, as well asto recognize the characteristics of the carbon produced. Characteristics of the carbon quality followed the Indonesian National Standard (SNI) 06-3730-1995 by analyzing the contents of water, volatile substances, ash, and carbon, as well as, the ability of the carbon in absorption capacities of iodine and methylene blue. The optimum pyrolysis temperature in producing carbon was 300oC with the best characteristics including result rendement, contents of water, volatile substances, ash, and carbon were 40,27 ± ; 4,00 ± 0,00; 6,58 ± 0,07; 4,34 ± 1,22, and 85,06%b/b respectively, as well as, the absorption capacities of iodine and methylene blue were 631,0935 ± 0,00 mg/g and 131,34 ± 1,7 mg/g respectively. The optimum time of pyrolysis in producing carbon was 90 minutes with the best characteristics including result rendement, contents of water, volatile substances, ash, and carbon were 42,30 ± 8,7; 2,00 ± 0,00; 2,87 ± 0,07; 9,68 ± 1,17; and 85,44% b/brespectively, as well as, the absorption capacities of iodine and methylene blue were 647,4642 ± 0,00and the 136,20 ± 1,28 mg/g respectively. The carbon produced from the optimum of pyrolysis temperature and time had characteristic in accordance with the SNI 06-3730-1995, it contained O-H functional group and it is in aliphatic structure.