Synthesis and Characterization of Activated Carbons Prepared from Agro-Wastes by Chemical Activation

In this present study, activated carbons were prepared from rice husks and potato peels by chemical activation with 40% phosphoric acid (H3PO4). The effects of carbonization temperature and impregnation ratio were investigated with a continuous activation period. Physicochemical characteristics such...

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Main Authors: Joel Brian Njewa, Ephraim Vunain, Timothy Biswick
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2022-01-01
Series:Journal of Chemistry
Online Access:http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/9975444
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author Joel Brian Njewa
Ephraim Vunain
Timothy Biswick
author_facet Joel Brian Njewa
Ephraim Vunain
Timothy Biswick
author_sort Joel Brian Njewa
collection DOAJ
description In this present study, activated carbons were prepared from rice husks and potato peels by chemical activation with 40% phosphoric acid (H3PO4). The effects of carbonization temperature and impregnation ratio were investigated with a continuous activation period. Physicochemical characteristics such as surface morphology, surface charge, and surface functional groups were assessed. According to X-ray diffraction measurements, the results showed that the activated carbons had identical pHpzc (6.8) and that the activated carbons generated were carbonaceous. The existence of hydroxyl, carbonyl, amines, aromatic, and other functional groups, which are excellent for adsorption, was revealed by surface chemistry studies. Micrographs taken with a scanning electron microscope indicated wide opening pores with a larger mesoporous surface area and many linked pores. Rice husk activated carbon outperformed potato peel activated carbon in laboratory tests. The research has shown that the agro-wastes employed in the study are possible precursors for making locally activated carbons at a low cost, thus resolving the problem of agro-waste disposal.
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spelling doaj-art-c81be9f98d4f4dff8af12cab3b638b532025-08-20T03:19:29ZengWileyJournal of Chemistry2090-90712022-01-01202210.1155/2022/9975444Synthesis and Characterization of Activated Carbons Prepared from Agro-Wastes by Chemical ActivationJoel Brian Njewa0Ephraim Vunain1Timothy Biswick2University of MalawiUniversity of MalawiUniversity of MalawiIn this present study, activated carbons were prepared from rice husks and potato peels by chemical activation with 40% phosphoric acid (H3PO4). The effects of carbonization temperature and impregnation ratio were investigated with a continuous activation period. Physicochemical characteristics such as surface morphology, surface charge, and surface functional groups were assessed. According to X-ray diffraction measurements, the results showed that the activated carbons had identical pHpzc (6.8) and that the activated carbons generated were carbonaceous. The existence of hydroxyl, carbonyl, amines, aromatic, and other functional groups, which are excellent for adsorption, was revealed by surface chemistry studies. Micrographs taken with a scanning electron microscope indicated wide opening pores with a larger mesoporous surface area and many linked pores. Rice husk activated carbon outperformed potato peel activated carbon in laboratory tests. The research has shown that the agro-wastes employed in the study are possible precursors for making locally activated carbons at a low cost, thus resolving the problem of agro-waste disposal.http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/9975444
spellingShingle Joel Brian Njewa
Ephraim Vunain
Timothy Biswick
Synthesis and Characterization of Activated Carbons Prepared from Agro-Wastes by Chemical Activation
Journal of Chemistry
title Synthesis and Characterization of Activated Carbons Prepared from Agro-Wastes by Chemical Activation
title_full Synthesis and Characterization of Activated Carbons Prepared from Agro-Wastes by Chemical Activation
title_fullStr Synthesis and Characterization of Activated Carbons Prepared from Agro-Wastes by Chemical Activation
title_full_unstemmed Synthesis and Characterization of Activated Carbons Prepared from Agro-Wastes by Chemical Activation
title_short Synthesis and Characterization of Activated Carbons Prepared from Agro-Wastes by Chemical Activation
title_sort synthesis and characterization of activated carbons prepared from agro wastes by chemical activation
url http://dx.doi.org/10.1155/2022/9975444
work_keys_str_mv AT joelbriannjewa synthesisandcharacterizationofactivatedcarbonspreparedfromagrowastesbychemicalactivation
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AT timothybiswick synthesisandcharacterizationofactivatedcarbonspreparedfromagrowastesbychemicalactivation