Production and Characterization of Chemically Activated Carbon from Khaya senegalensis Shell Waste

Abstract

Despite the numerous and important applications of activated carbon, not much work has been done on its application as a supporting activated carbon for the production of biodiesel. In this study, an activated carbon was developed through chemical activation of Khaya senegalensis shell waste. The effect of pH, conductivity, ash content, carbon yield and moisture content were investigated. From the results, the yield of the activated carbon decreases gradually as the temperature increases from 500^oC to 900^oC. The activated carbon yield decreases progressively as the impregnation ratio of K₂SO₃ increases from 2 to 10 gdm^-3. The optimum temperature for carbonization was observed at 800 ⁰C.  The effect of temperature on the ash content of the activated carbon at 500 to 700 ^oC were observed to be 6.2 to 11.2. However, when the temperature was raised from700 to 900 ^oC, the ash contents also increased from 11.2 to 15.3. Moisture content also shows a decrease with increasing reaction temperature. At 500 ^oC the moisture content was observed to be 7.9 % and the lowest moisture content was observed to be 3.0% at 900 ^oC. The external surface of the activated carbon that was produced at 3:6 carbon impregnated with K₂CO₃ displays some crystals on the surface, which also displayed some pores and cavities on the surface. The FT-IR spectrum showed band that was attributed to C-C stretching. Other peaks were observed at corresponds C=O, 1442.5 is associated to C-O stretching and a C-H bending at 700.7cm^-1.