Abstract—Activated carbon has been known as an excellent adsorbent which has been widely used due for its large adsorption capacity and low cost. In Malaysia, palm kernel shell is one of the main agriculture wastes obtained from palm oil industries. In this study, the palm kernel shell-based activated carbon was prepared via microwave-induced activation process using phosphoric acid, H
3PO
4 at difference concentration as the activating agent. Home modified microwave with power 350 W was used for activation process of 1 min on and 1 min off. The activation process took place for 10 minutes (5 cycles). This prepared activated carbon samples were chemical characterized using Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR), Nitrogen Gas Adsorption analysis and thermal analysis. The results obtained indicate that microwave induced activated carbon can be prepared in the presence of a chemical activation agent for in this case, phosphoric acid. This study shows, activated carbon at 60 % phosphoric acid concentration has the highest surface area of 630 m
2/g. The production of activated carbon from agricultural waste such as palm kernel shells via microwave induced can be a new promising method in producing easier and simpler high surface area activated carbon.
Index Terms—Activated carbon, palm kernel shells, microwave-induced, phosphoric acid.
A. R. Yacob is with the Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Johor 81310 Malaysia (e-mail: manrahim@kimia.fs.utm.my).
N. Wahab, N. H. Suhaimi, and M. K. A. A. Mustajab are with the Department of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Universiti Teknologi Malaysia, Johor Bahru, Johor 81310 Malaysia (e-mail: noramirah89@gmail.com, shaafaa.hairaa@gmail.com, krulchubby84@yahoo.com).
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Cite: Abdul Rahim Yacob, Noramirah Wahab, Nurshaira Haifa Suhaimi, and Mohd Khairul Asyraf Amat Mustajab, "Microwave Induced Carbon from Waste Palm Kernel Shell Activated by Phosphoric Acid," International Journal of Engineering and Technology vol. 5, no. 2, pp. 214-217, 2013.
