PREPARATION OF ACTIVATED CARBON PRODUCTION FROM OIL PALM EMPTY FRUIT BUNCH AND ITS APPLICATION

Abstract

Response surface methodology (RSM) with central composite design (CCD) was employed to optimize the activated carbon production from oil palm empty fruit bunch (OPEFB). First, carbonization was RSM-designed by carrying out in CO₂ with a focus on the effects of carbonization temperature and carbonization time. The maximum I₂ adsorption of 373.41 mg/g with surface area (BET) of 1.09 m²/g was presented by bio-char with carbonization condition of 450 °C for 90 min. Subsequently, the activation process was RSM-designed by H₃PO₄ activation. OPEFB bio-char was mixed with 85% (w/v) H₃PO₄ at bio-char/H₃PO₄ ratio (1:1-1:3 (w/v), activation temperature (400-600 ºC) and activation time (60-180 min). The maximum I₂ adsorption of 841.32 mg/g and BET of 900.02 m²/g was presented by activated carbon in the activation condition of bio-char/H₃PO₄ ratio 1:2 at 668 °C for 120 min. In addition, the selected OPEFB-activated carbon was applied for furfural and 5-Hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF) adsorptions from the simulated solutions and it could remove of 139.94 and 18.79 mg/g, respectively.