Microwave Assisted KOH Activation of Salacca Peel Dericed Activated Carbons as Adsorbents for Methylene Blue Removal from Aqueous Phase

Abstract

In this study, salacca peel derived activated carbons (SPAC) were prepared by microwave assisted- KOH activation process. In the preparation process, the fixed mass ratio between salacca peel and KOH of 1:2 was used. Next, the effects of activation time (5, 15, 20 and 25 minutes) and microwave power (30, 380 and 700 W) on the characteristics of SPAC were then investigated. The BET surface area of SPAC was about 1491 m2/g for activation time of 25 minutes and microwave power of 700 W. The as-prepared SPAC was then then as adsorbents for methylene blue (MB) removal from aqueous phase. The adsorption data of SPAC were analyzed by Langmuir and Freundlich adsorption isotherms and the best correlation was shown by the Langmuir isotherm with maximum capacity of 327.9 mg/g. The analyses of kinetic data showed that the adsorption of MB on SPAC follow the pseudo-second order kinetic model.