Microwave pyrolysis with KOH/NaOH mixture activation: A new approach to produce micro-mesoporous activated carbon for textile dye adsorption

Liew RK 1 , Azwar E 1 , Yek PNY 2 , Lim XY 1 , Cheng CK 3 , Ng JH 4 Show all authors , Jusoh A 5 , Lam WH 6 , Ibrahim MD 7 , Ma NL 8 , Lam SS 9

Affiliations 

  • 1 Pyrolysis Technology Research Group, Eastern Corridor Renewable Energy Group, School of Ocean Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
  • 2 Pyrolysis Technology Research Group, Eastern Corridor Renewable Energy Group, School of Ocean Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia; School of Engineering and Technology, University College of Technology Sarawak, Lot 88, Persiaran Brooke, 96000 Sibu, Sarawak, Malaysia
  • 3 Faculty of Chemical and Natural Resources Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Pahang, Lebuhraya Tun Razak, 26300 Gambang, Kuantan, Pahang, Malaysia
  • 4 Faculty of Engineering and the Environment, University of Southampton Malaysia Campus, Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia
  • 5 School of Ocean Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
  • 6 State Key Laboratory of Hydraulic Engineering Simulation and Safety, Tianjin University, Peiyang Park Campus, 135 Yaguan Road, Haihe Education Park, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
  • 7 Department of Mechanical & Manufacturing, Faculty of Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, Jalan Dato Mohd Musa, 94300 Kota Samarahan, Sarawak, Malaysia
  • 8 School of Fundamental Science, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia
  • 9 Pyrolysis Technology Research Group, Eastern Corridor Renewable Energy Group, School of Ocean Engineering, Universiti Malaysia Terengganu, 21030 Kuala Nerus, Terengganu, Malaysia. Electronic address: lam@umt.edu.my
Bioresour Technol, 2018 Oct;266:1-10.
PMID: 29936405 DOI: 10.1016/j.biortech.2018.06.051

Abstract

A micro-mesoporous activated carbon (AC) was produced via an innovative approach combining microwave pyrolysis and chemical activation using NaOH/KOH mixture. The pyrolysis was examined over different chemical impregnation ratio, microwave power, microwave irradiation time and types of activating agents for the yield, chemical composition, and porous characteristic of the AC obtained. The AC was then tested for its feasibility as textile dye adsorbent. About 29 wt% yield of AC was obtained from the banana peel with low ash and moisture (<5 wt%), and showed a micro-mesoporous structure with high BET surface area (≤1038 m2/g) and pore volume (≤0.80 cm3/g), indicating that it can be utilized as adsorbent to remove dye. Up to 90% adsorption of malachite green dye was achieved by the AC. Our results indicate that the microwave-activation approach represents a promising attempt to produce good quality AC for dye adsorption.

* Title and MeSH Headings from MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine.

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