Proximate and structural analysis of activated carbon with different structures from oil palm biomass

• Main Authors: Togatorop, Ester Rimma Suryani, Arundina, Ria Yolanda, Sejati, Prabu Satria, Kusumah, Sukma Surya, Marlina, Resti
• Format: Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Subjects: Activated carbon; Adsorbents; Amorphous materials; Biomass; Carbonization; Electrode materials; Electrodes; Energy storage; Iron chlorides; Material properties; Methylene blue; Oil palm trees; Pyrolysis; Raw materials; Structural analysis; Wastewater treatment
• ISSN: 0094-243X; 1551-7616
• DOI: 10.1063/5.0184530

Activated carbon is an amorphous material that is widely used as a filter, adsorbent, electrode material, etc. However, conventional activated carbon is non-eco-friendly material due to its unsustainable issue, therefore, biomass-based activated carbon (AC) has become popular research in order to replace fossil-based activated carbon. In this study, we used oil palm waste as our raw materials from different parts of the oil palm tree such as Oil Palm Empty Fruit Bunches (OPEFB), and Oil Palm Shells (OPS). The different structures of activated carbon from oil palm waste will be investigated through OPEFB and OPS while the differences in carbonization methods between hydrothermal and pyrolysis were performed on OPS and OPS-char. These materials were activated using solid KOH and FeCl2.H2O, followed by pyrolysis at 800oC in an N2 atmosphere. Physical characterization was carried out by proximate analysis to determine the quality of activated carbon using ASTM standards. Meanwhile, the structural characterization was carried out using XRD, BET, and FESEM methods to observe the structural morphology of each activated carbon. The proximate analysis results show good results that meet ASTM standards D 3172-3175 with low moisture, ash content, volatile matter, and high fixed carbon values. The highest value in the methylene blue adsorption test was found in AC OPEFB. XRD analysis showed that our samples have an amorphous structure while BET analysis presents our samples have high surface area namely, AC OPEFB (775.58 m2/g), AC OPS (733.04 m2/g), and AC OPS-char (594.093 m2/g). The FESEM images show the formed AC pores depending on the natural structure and type of carbonization method. In general, these material properties can be applied to pore-based applications such as adsorbents in wastewater treatment or electrodes in energy storage.