A review of the synthesis of activated carbon for biodiesel production: Precursor, preparation, and modification

Abstract

• Overview of the synthesis of activated carbon as catalysts for biodiesel production. • Key factors affecting the properties and catalytic performance of activated carbon. • A guide to design activated carbon catalyst with optimal surface morphology. Activated carbon (AC) is a porous material with unique chemical and physical properties that has been used widely in various applications. The production process of AC involves precursor treatments, carbonization, and physical and/or chemical activation. Besides, surface modifications are commonly carried out to improve the AC properties, particularly as a catalyst. This paper provides an overview of the recent development in each of these steps. The temperature and time, as well as the impregnation ratio of activating agent to the precursor were found to have a significant influence on the surface morphology of the AC during an activation process. The effects of these variables on AC yield, BET surface area, and pore volume during synthesis from various raw materials synthesis are discussed. The use of AC as a catalyst in the production of biodiesel is also being studied. This work could serve as a guideline to design a high-performance activated carbon based catalyst for biofuel production.