The Malaysian Journal of Analytical Sciences Vol 12 No 1 (2008): 264 – 271

 

 

COMPARISON OF VARIOUS SOURCES OF HIGH SURFACE AREA CARBON PREPARED BY DIFFERENT TYPES OF ACTIVATION

 

Abdul Rahim Yacob, Zaiton Abdul Majid, Ratna Sari Dewi Dasril and Vicinisvarri a/p Inderan

 

Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia,

81310 UTM Skudai, Johor, Malaysia.

 

Abstract

Activated  carbon has been known as an excellent adsorbent and is widely  used due to its large  adsorption capacity. Activation condition and types of activation influence the surface area and porosity of the activated carbon produced. In this study, palm kernel shells and commercially activated carbon were used. To convert palm kernel shells into coal, two methods were employed, namely chemical activation and physical activation. For chemical activation,  two activating agents, zinc chloride and potassium carbonate, were used. The activated carbons were analyzed using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, single point BET and free emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM). The commercial activated carbon was also characterized. FTIR results indicate that all the palm kernel shells were successfully converted to carbon. Single point BET surface area of all the carbons prepared were obtained. From FESEM micrograph, the chemically activated palm kernel shells shows well highly defined cavities and pores. This study also shows that palm kernel shells can be used to be a better source of high surface area carbon.

 

Keywords: activated carbon, palm kernel shells, chemical and physical activation.

 

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