Jute Stick- A Suitable and Economical Source as Charcoal and Activated Carbon Preparation

Abstract

Charcoal is a light-weight black carbon residue produced by strongly heating wood with minimal oxygen to remove all water and volatile constituents. Jute sticks were used as a cheap precursor for the preparation of charcoal and activated carbon. Chemical activation with CaCl₂ caused the physicochemical changes in charcoal. Jute sticks were carbonized at a range of 250°C to 750°C temperatures by an electric muffle furnace where 40–45% higher yields were observed at 250°C temperature and yields declined (8–10%) with an increase in temperature up to 500°C. In the case of charcoal, the average moisture was 9.88%. The IR results of charcoal analysis were indicated 3,450 cm^-1 for the moisture and 1689.34 cm^-1 for carboxyl groups. Ash was obtained at a temperature of 550°C in thermogravimetric analysis. At the first phase (50–340°C) of activated carbon, moisture was released (24% weight loss) because of the activation of activated carbon, which consumes more water than charcoal. The oxidation of carbon occurred in the range of 340–550°C and the remaining 1% of inorganic materials became ash. Food and beverage processing, snow avalanche control, municipal drinking water, industrial pollution control, radio wave capture, methane solvent recovery, odor remover, metal purification, and sewage treatment will all benefit from this activated carbon. The properties of the final materials obtained after pyrolyzing at 700°C can be a suitable approach.