Papaya peels as source of hydro char via hydrothermal carbonization

Abstract

Papaya peels was converted into hydro char via hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) and used as adsorbent for methylene blue removal. The carbonization of the papaya peels was executed at six different temperatures ranging from 150 °C to 200 °C with 50 °C interval with reaction time of 120 minutes mainly to study the effect of the carbonization temperature on the hydro char formed via HTC. The hydro char produced was assessed in terms of mass yield, elemental compositions, and higher heating value (HHV) prior to degradation of methylene blue (MB). For all sample, the mass yield of the hydro char was reduced as the reaction temperature increased whilst contradict to carbon contents which increased as the HTC temperature increased. The HHV also increased as the carbonization temperature rise, but it was observed a slight decline of the HHV for hydro char formed at 170 °C which because of the carbon content in the hydro char. Moreover, result shows removal percentage of MB increased significantly along with the carbonization temperature.