Preparation and Characterization of Activated Carbon using Rubber-seed Shell via Chemical Activation using Phosphoric Acid

Being known as an agricultural waste by-product, therefore the rubber-seed shell is
being investigated to be used as alternative rawmaterial to produce activated carbon
via chemical activation using phosphoric acid H3P04. Theinfluence of carbonization
temperatures (400-600°C), impregnation ratios (1:1 - 1:20) and sample size (45um -
500um) of the prepared activated carbon on the pore development and yield were
investigated. The raw materials and produced activated carbons were characterized
by Nitrogen adsorption isothenns and Variable Pressure Field Emission Scanning
electron microscope. Oil and grease adsorption results show that rubber-seed shell is
a good precursor for activated carbon. The optimal activation temperature is:
temperature 500°C, impregnation ratio of 1:10 and activation time of 1.5 hour.
Characteristics of activated carbon shows H3P04 as a dehydrating agentthat moreto
cleaning the surface of the activated carbon and promotes pore widening effect (1.09
nm - 6.53 nm) producing more shallow and wide mesoporous rich sites which makes
a low specific surface area, thus low micropores sites. It is established that rubberseed
shell is an attractive source of raw material for producing high capacity of
mesoporous and macroporous activated carbon by chemical activation with
phosphoric acid H3P04.