Preparation and characterization of activated carbon from palm kernel shell by chemical activation.

This work investigates the effect of change in temperature and time of activation on physicochemical properties of activated carbon prepared from palm kernel shell by chemical activation. The experimental design yielded nine activated carbons which were characterized by standard methods, including SEM examinations and FTIR analysis to study the surface morphology and to analyze the functional groups on the prepared carbons surface respectively. The BET surface area, obtained from nitrogen gas adsorption ranged from 17 to 217 g/m 2 . The BET surface area of the prepared activated carbons was in the order: A1 > A2 > A3 > C1 > B3 > B1 > B2 > C3 > C2. The nitrogen gas adsorption also showed that samples A1, A2, A3, B1, B2, B3 and C1 conform to type 1 of IUPAC isotherm classification while samples C2 and C3 conform to type II isotherm. The carbonized sample, (CC), exhibit type III isotherm. Result shows that the best condition for the preparation of activated carbon for adsorption from palm kernel shell using KOH as activating agent be 800 o C for 45 minutes, taking into cognizance the feasibility of scaling up production.

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