Sains Malaysiana 47(3)(2018): 603–610

http://dx.doi.org/10.17576/jsm-2018-4703-22

 

FeCl₃-Activated Carbon Developed from Coconut Leaves: Characterization and Application for Methylene Blue Removal

(Karbon Teraktif-FeCl₃ daripada Daun Kelapa: Pencirian dan Aplikasi terhadap Penyingkiran Metilena Biru)

 

RAMLAH ABD RASHID^1,2*, ALI H. JAWAD¹, MOHD AZLAN BIN MOHD ISHAK² & NUR NASULHAH KASIM²

 

¹Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Shah Alam Campus, 40450 Shah Alam, Selangor Darul Ehsan, Malaysia

 

²Faculty of Applied Sciences, Universiti Teknologi MARA, Arau Campus, 02600 Arau, Perlis Indera Kayangan, Malaysia

 

Received: 4 April 2017/Accepted: 13 October 2017

 

ABSTRACT

In this study, coconut leaves were used as a starting material for the production of activated carbon by thermal carbonization using FeCl₃-activation method. The characterization of coconut leaves-FeCl₃ activated carbon (FAC) were evaluated by bulk density, ash content, moisture content, point-of-zero charge (pHpzc) analysis, iodine test, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) and elemental (CHNS-O) analysis. The effect of the adsorbent dosage (0.02-0.25 g), initial pH (3-11), initial dye concentrations (30-350 mg/L) and contact time (1-180 min) on the adsorption of the methylene blue (MB) at 303 K was performed via batch experiments. The Pseudo-Second Order (PSO) describes the kinetic model well whereas the Langmuir isotherm proved that adsorption behavior at equilibrium with maximum adsorption capacity (q_max) of 66.00 mg/g.

 

Keywords: Activated carbon; adsorption; coconut leaves; ferric chloride; methylene blue; thermal activation

 

ABSTRAK

Dalam kajian ini, daun kelapa telah dipilih sebagai bahan pemula bagi penghasilan karbon teraktif melalui penkarbonan haba dengan menggunakan FeCl₃ sebagai agen pengaktif. Pencirian karbon teraktif (FAC) dianalisis dengan menggunakan mikroskop imbasan elektron (SEM), transformasi Fourier inframerah (FTIR) dan analisis elemen (CHNS-O). Beberapa parameter yang mempengaruhi penyahwarnaan metilena biru pada suhu 303 K seperti dos bahan penjerap (0.02-0.25 g), pH awal (3-11), kepekatan (30-350 mg/L) dan masa (0-180 min) telah dikaji dan dioptimumkan dengan menggunakan kaedah uji kaji berkumpulan. Model kinetik Pseudo-Pertama dan Pseudo-Kedua telah digunakan untuk menganalisis mekanisme yang terlibat dalam proses penjerapan. Nilai korelasi (R²) yang ditunjukkan oleh FAC terhadap model kinetik tertib Pseudo- Kedua lebih tinggi berbanding tertib Pseudo-Pertama. Data isoterma penjerapan dikaji dengan model isoterma seperti Langmuir, Freundlich dan Temkin. Proses penjerapan dikenal pasti mengikuti model Langmuir dengan kapasiti penjerapan maksimum (q_max) dicapai sebanyak 66.00 mg/g.

 

Kata kunci: Daun kelapa; ferik klorida; karbon teraktif; metilena biru; pengaktifan haba; penjerapan

 

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*Corresponding author; email: ramlahabdrashid@yahoo.com