Utilization of cocoa pod husk waste biomass for post-combustion CO2 adsorption

• Published in: DISCOVER ENVIRONMENT 2024-10, Vol.2 (1), p.1-11, Article 109
• Main Authors: Omole, Olayemi O., Adesina, Olusola A., Daniel, Ayodele, Mufliah, Omofoyewa G., Igbafe, Anselm I.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activated carbon; CO2 capturing; Cocoa pod husk; Earth and Environmental Science; Environment; Environmental Geography; Environmental Science and Engineering; Optimization
• ISSN: 2731-9431; 2731-9431
• DOI: 10.1007/s44274-024-00146-x

Biomass-derived activated carbon for carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) post-combustion has been drawing attention because they are cost-effective and environment-friendly. In this study, activated carbon was prepared from cocoa pod husk waste (COP) biomass for CO 2 adsorption. The COP was pyrolyzed and activated using potassium hydroxide (KOH). The activated carbon prepared was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Scanning Electron Microscopy- Energy Dispersive Spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analysis. The performance of the activated carbons prepared for CO 2 was evaluated using a CO 2 gas analyzer. Optimization of the adsorption process of CO 2 was carried out by varying some important variables affecting the adsorption process. Results showed activated carbon prepared has a good pore structure with high carbon content that supported CO 2 adsorption. The Freundlich model provided the best fit with the experimental data while data fitted well to pseudo-second-order kinetics with an adsorption capacity of 6.5 mg/g. The optimal condition for CO 2 adsorption, was an adsorption time of 1 min, a Carbonization temperature of 700 °C, and Bed height of 5 cm, and % CO 2 removal of 99.5%. The study revealed (COP) biomass as a suitable activated carbon precursor for CO 2 capture.