Preparation of Activated Carbon and Zeolite NaA Composites from Rice Husk Charcoal for Water Filtration

Abstract

Carbon and amorphous silica from rice husk charcoal was prepared by carbonization of rice husk in an incineration furnace around 700 °C. The rice husk charcoal was taken as a precursor in the synthesis of carbon and zeolite NaA composites by hydrothermal method at various synthesis temperatures of 80-110 °C and for 2-8 hour. The composite powder was formed into rectangular shape of 10 mm width, 60 mm length and 10 mm thickness by hydraulic pressing at 60 MPa with 1% of carboxy methyl cellulose mixed with 5-20% of phenolic resin as binders. Samples were fired in a tubular furnace with 5% CO2+N2 gas flow at 300-700 °C for 1 hour as the thermal activation of carbon and sintering of the composite samples. Activated carbon and zeolite NaA composites were characterized in terms of phase analysis, morphology, thermal stability, mechanical strength, calcium ions absorbtivity and specific surface area by x-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), three points bending, inductive coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and brunauer-emmett-teller technique (BET), respectively.