Comparative laboratory cost analysis of various activated carbon activation process

Abstract

Activated carbon (AC) is an established adsorbent for organic pollutants reduction, metal removal, and liquid and gas adsorption. Cost analysis corresponds to determining the best approach for AC production depending on activation techniques with different degrees of activation is still minimal in literature. A cost estimation of AC production in laboratory scale using different conventional activation and post-activation surface modification process is performed in this study. This study attempts to develop a cost-friendly selection of activation process from laboratory scale prices. Chemicals and utility costs were acquired from vendor quotes (i.e., Sigma-Aldrich and Fisher Scientific) and Sarawak industrial electricity tariffs based on 100 g production. Oil palm-based ACs produced from five different activation or surface modification methods were compared to ascertain the least expensive production approach in terms of estimated production cost. Of the five methods investigated, method that quoted the least expensive production cost is chemical activation using potassium hydroxide (KOH) with minimum estimated cost of $7.30 whereas the most expensive production cost involves surface modification by polyethyleneimine (PEI) impregnation with cost of $873.00. Therefore, the estimated production cost for KOH activation is the minimum at $0.073 g−1 while the maximum is $8.73 g−1 for PEI impregnation.