Preparation and Characterization of Biochar and Activated Carbon Derived from Cashew Bagasse Waste

Abstract

Biochar and Activated carbon derived from cashew bagasse waste (CBB and CBAC), are veritable materials produced from agro-waste. They are currently under-utilized owing to paucity of information in their recycling methods which reduces agricultural waste from the environment. This study investigates the use of under-utilized cashew bagasse waste in the production of biochar and activated carbon using pyrolysis and chemical activation methods, respectively. Cashew bagasse waste was pyrolysed at 400 0 C for 20mins at 10 0 C/min. The biochar was chemically activated using 0.3M orthophosphoric acid (H3PO4) at an impregnation ratio of 1:2.36(w/w). It was heated at 100 0 C to form a paste and placed in a muffle furnace at 500 0 C for 30 mins. This was cooled and washed until pH was neutral. It was oven dried at 105 0 C for 24 hours to a constant weight to produce CBAC Characterization of CBB and CBAC for its pH, bulk density, and moisture content, dry matter, volatile matter, and fixed carbon were determined. FTIR and SEM analysis on CBB and CBAC was done to determine the functional groups and surface morphology, respectively. The Data obtained were analyzed using descriptive statistics and ANOVA at P value < 0.05. This study, therefore, revealed CBAC to have better characteristics than CBB.