Chemical Activation of Durian Shell Activated Carbon: Effects of Activation Agents

Abstract

Selection of suitable activation agent is important in order to produce high surface area of activated carbon. The present study was undertaken to develop high surface area of durian shell activated carbon (DSAC) using different chemical activation agents which were potassium hydroxide (KOH) and phosphoric acid (H3PO4). Surface porosity and surface area were directly measured from scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and surface area analyzer, respectively. For the optimum condition, it showed that H3PO4 treated DSAC had the highest surface area which was 257.50 m2/g compared to KOH treated DSAC which was 13.10 m2/g. H3PO4 treated DSAC also showed the highest micropore surface area, external surface area and total pore volume with 191.22 m2/g, 66.28 m2/g and 0.149 cm3/g, respectively. SEM result showed that H3PO4 treated DSAC had a well pronounce porosity than durian shell char. Surface area and surface porosity were important in an adsorption process.