Project Abstract

Abstract
This research project presents a comparative study between activated carbon derived from corn cob using traditional chemical activation methods and a novel microwave-assisted activation technique. The aim of the study is to investigate the efficiency, porosity, surface area, and adsorption properties of the activated carbons produced through these two different synthesis routes. Corn cob, an abundant agricultural waste material, was chosen as the precursor for its sustainability and availability. The chemical activation method involved impregnating the corn cob with a chemical activating agent, typically phosphoric acid or potassium hydroxide, followed by carbonization at elevated temperatures. On the other hand, the microwave-assisted activation process utilized microwave radiation to directly heat and activate the corn cob material, thus potentially offering a more rapid and energy-efficient synthesis route. Characterization of the activated carbons was conducted using various analytical techniques including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer-Emmett-Teller (BET) surface area analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). The results revealed that the microwave-synthesized activated carbon exhibited higher surface area and porosity compared to the chemically synthesized counterpart. This superior textural properties of the microwave-synthesized carbon can be attributed to the rapid and uniform heating provided by microwave irradiation, leading to better activation of the precursor material. Furthermore, the adsorption performance of the activated carbons was evaluated through the removal of methylene blue dye from aqueous solutions. The adsorption studies indicated that the microwave-synthesized activated carbon demonstrated enhanced adsorption capacity and efficiency compared to the chemically synthesized carbon. This can be attributed to the higher surface area and pore volume of the microwave-synthesized carbon, providing more active sites for the adsorption of dye molecules. Overall, the comparative study highlights the potential of microwave-assisted activation as a promising alternative to traditional chemical activation methods for the synthesis of activated carbon from corn cob. The microwave-synthesized activated carbon exhibited superior textural properties and adsorption performance, indicating its viability for various environmental and industrial applications requiring efficient adsorbents.

Project Overview

INTRODUCTION

1.1 BACKGROUND OF STUDY

Activated carbon, also widely known as activated charcoal or activated coal is a form of carbon which has been processed to make it extremely porous and thus to have a very large surface area available for adsorption or chemical reactions (Mattson et al., 1971). The word active is sometimes used in place of activated. It is characterized by high degree of micro porosity. A gram of activated carbon can have a surface area in excess of 500 m2. Sufficient activation for useful applications may come solely from the high surface area, though further chemical treatment generally enhances the adsorbing properties of the material. Activated carbon is most commonly derived from charcoal.

Waste biomass is getting increasing attention all over the world for activated carbon development as it is renewable, widely available, cheap and environmentally friendly resource. The common method of development is thermochemical (Kumar et al., 2005). The main concern is the removal of chemical component by adsorption from the liquid or gas phase (Bansal et al.,1988).