Effect Of Activation Temperature And Time In The Development Of Activated Carbon Derived From Banana Peel

The main aim of this project is to study the prospective of using banana peel as potential
adsorbent in eliminating carbon dioxide from polluted air in the atmosphere. The study
emphasizes on the parameters involved in the preparation of the banana peel biosorbent,
such as activating agent, activation temperature and activation time. Initially, the dried
banana peel is grinded into powder form, then chemically activated using either
potassium hydroxide and carbonized at different sets of temperature and time. This
carbonization process allows the formation of activated carbon, one of a common type
of adsorbent used globally especially in industries’ effluent treating. The biosorbent
then is further heated by microwave-heating method in order to find out either the
product becomes better or vice versa. The characterization of agro-based activated
carbon is done using the surface area analyzer (Micromeritics ASAP 2020) and the
Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) to determine which set of
parameters produces the largest surface area estimated using the BET theory (SBET)
which is directly proportional to the effectiveness of biosorbent. In addition, the
activated carbons developed from banana peel are also tested for their adsorption
capacity with typical pollutants found in industrial emission such as carbon dioxide
using HPVA II analyzer. The samples were also analysed for its elemental composition
before and after carbonization which results in 58.67 wt% and 56.18 wt% respectively
for its carbon content. Sample MW2 was recognized to yield activated carbon with
largest surface area, SBET of 1142.7893 m2/g and pore diameter of 2.22765 nm which
falls in mesoporosity subclass. Sample MW2 with particle size of 0.25 mm was
prepared using potassium hydroxide as activating agent with 1:1 impregnation ratio and
carbonized for two hours at 400oC. Sample MW2 then is further tested for carbon
dioxide adsorption at 25oC which is able to adsorb carbon dioxide.