FABRICATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF ACTIVATED CARBON FROM SWAMP TARO STALK USING H3PO4 ACTIVATION

Abstract

In this study, highly mesoporous activated carbon was prepared from swamp taro stalk via single step H3PO4 activation. The effect of impregnation time (1 – 3 h) on the yield and surface area of activated carbon was investigated. The synthesized activated carbon was examined by Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) and N₂ adsorption desorption analyses. The optimization investigation clearly showed that the impregnation time gives significant effect on the yield and BET surface area of the materials. Under the optimum impregnation time of 2 h, the registered yield percentage and BET surface area were 35.82 and 1390.41 m²g^-1 respectively. Type IV isotherm with H1 loops obtained from N₂-sorption studies indicates the fairly narrow mesoporous network structure. This study proved the facile synthesis route of high grade activated carbon from waste biomass.