Effect of Chemical Activating Agents on Surface Area and Methylene Blue Uptake Capacity of Activated Carbons

Abstract

Activated carbon from Acacia asak (Fabaceae) tree branches was prepared utilizing three-steps- process and H3P04, ZnCl2, H2S04, K2C03, Na0H and K0H as chemical activating agents. In addition to the elemental analysis of precursor materials, produced activated carbon (ATB-AC) was also analyzed for moisture content, ash content, pH value, bulk density, volatile matter, hardness, specific surface area (SBET), iodine number and pore volume. Results revealed that the quality of ATB-AC is well comparable to the available commercial activated carbon (CAC). The SBET was found to be in the order of ATB-AC1> ATB- AC2> ATB-AC4> ATB-AC6> ATB-AC3> ATB-AC5. All the produced ATB-AC demonstrated good MB (methylene blue) removal efficiency, whereas ATB-AC1 and ATB-AC2 (produced from H3P04, and ZnCl2) showed higher efficiency. It is concluded that the chemical activating agent has significant effect on produced AC keeping all other production parameters constant. Among the six studied chemicals, H3P04 and ZnCl2 produced AC exhibited high SBET surface area and MB uptake capacity.

Sustainable production of activated carbon from indigenous Acacia etbaica tree branches employing microwave induced and low temperature activation

“…These pores and cavities result from evaporating the H 3 PO 4 molecules during carbonization, leaving the spaces previously occupied by H 3 PO 4 on the surface of AC [ 28 ]. It can be seen from Table 2 that the values are well comparable with the BET specific surface area of AC reported in literature produced from other species of Acacia tree [ 17 , 24 , 29 , 30 ]. Furthermore, the BET specific surface area of AC-MWI is even higher than the commercially available high quality activated carbons ( Table 2 ).…”

“…In the present study, Phosphoric acid was used as an activating agent with the precursor material ( Acacia etbaica tree branches) as it can increase the porous structure, provide high surface area and total pore volume, which in turn increases the yield, adsorption capacity, active free valances, surface reactivity, and thermal stability [ 23 , 24 ]. Furthermore, it was easy to treat the wastewater produced during the washing of activated carbon, either by addition of metal salts to precipitates that were removed by solids separation processes, by evaporation in treatment basins or by neutralisation with calcium salts [ 25 ].…”

Production and evaluation of activated carbon from Saudi Arabian Acacia Tortilis tree bark by microwave and low temperature activation process

“…20 The mixture was kept in the oven at equlibrium temprature of 110 ± 5 °C for 24 hours based on the studies conducted in the past. 12,21 After 24 hours, mixture was poured into a stainless steel hollow cylinder having 8 cm diameter and 15 cm length and having two narrow exhaust holes of 5 mm diameter and two removable end caps also provided at both ends of cylinder. After preparation, cylinders were placed inside a muffle furnace (TMAX as compared to other materials which require manufacturers extra amount of money for procurement.…”