Preparation and characterization of activated carbon from almond shell by microwave-assisted using ZnCl2 activator

Abstract

Microwave-assisted activated carbon was synthesized from almond shell by chemical activation method using ZnCl2 activator. The effects of the microwave gas medium, microwave power, microwave time, activation temperature, activation time and impregnation ratio on the synthesis were investigated. Actived carbon was also synthesized in the same way without the microwave treatment. The characterization of the synthesized actived carbons was performed by SEM, FTIR and BET devices. The iodine number of the microwave assisted activated carbon (70% activator/raw material ratio, 250 W microwave power, 15 min microwave time, 500C activation temperature and 45 min activation time) and activated carbon without microwave (70% activator/raw material ratio, 500C activation temperature and 45 min. activation time) were determined to be 1141 mg/g and 190 mg g-1, respectively. The BET surface areas of microwave assisted activated carbon and without microwave were determined as 1057 m2 g-1 and 50 m2 g-1, respectively. The methylene blue numbers of the microwave assisted activated carbon and activated carbon without microwave were determined to be 201.40 mg g-1 and 97.14 mg g-1, respectively. According these values, it can be said that the microwave process has a significant effect on activated carbon production.